[Use of an external brachial flap in the reconstruction of the upper limb. Apropos of 11 cases].

During the last three years, eleven lateral upper arm flaps were used in the reconstruction of skin defects of the upper limb. These flaps were applied: 7 times on the hand; 2 times on the fore-arm; 2 times on the elbow. Ten flaps had a free transfer, one was vascularised by the distal pedicle. In 4 cases we used an emergency free transfer in the treatment of a traumatic defect. In the other cases the flaps were used in the treatment of post-traumatic sequelae such as contracture and/or osteitis. The series contains 10 fascio-cutaneous flaps and 1 osteo-cutaneous flap. We had one failure with an emergency free flap, salvaged without further sequelae by means of a groin flap. The proximity of the donor site in an upper limb reconstruction makes the lateral upper arm flap a good alternative when a pedicle locoregional flap cannot be used due to a lesion of its pedicle in the mechanism of the trauma.