[Direct closure of donor defects of the radial flap by preliminary stretching of the skin with a skin expander].

One of the disadvantages of the radial forearm flap is the donor defect covered by split skin grafts. The use of a tissue expander allows direct closure of smaller donor defects resulting in a cosmetically more acceptable linear scar. The skin expander must be implanted adjacent to the planned radial forearm flap in the epifascial plane for at least six weeks, preferably for two to three months. The operative technique is demonstrated at a typical clinical case and experiences with six further patients reported.