Use of amniotic membrane for radial forearm free flap donor site coverage: clinical, functional and cosmetic outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical, functional and aesthetic outcomes for radial forearm free flap (RFFF) donor sites covered with amniotic membrane (AM).

Material And Methods: The healing process of patients with RFFF donor sites covered with AM was prospectively followed for 1 year. Additionally at the 12-month evaluation, objective scoring systems were used to assess the aesthetic (Vancouver scar scale, VSS: range 1-13) and functional outcome (skin sensibility, hand/wrist functionality [goniometer], grip strength [score 1 = excellent, 5 = poor]).

Repair of oronasal fistulae by interposition of multilayered amniotic membrane allograft.

Background: Oronasal fistulas are a frequent complication after cleft palate surgery. Numerous repair methods have been described, but wound-healing problems occur often. The authors investigated, for the first time, the suitability of multilayered amniotic membrane allograft for fistula repair in a laboratory experiment (part A), a swine model (part B), and an initial patient series (part C).