[The use of microvascular free flaps in the repair of the skin of the upper limb].

Between 1980 and 1992 microsurgical free flaps were used in 35 patients for the repair the of skin defects in the upper limb. Twenty six patients were male and nine female. The scapular flap was done in 16 cases, the lateral flap in seven, the dorsalis pedis in four, the neurovascular first web space in four, the latissimus dorsi in two, the radical forearm flap in one and the gracilis in other one. The survival rate in this series was 88.57%. Early free flaps were performed in 12 patients of whom one developed infection at the recipient site. Two-point discrimination was achieved in four thumbs reconstructed with the neurovascular first web flap. No complications occurred at the donor areas.