Abstract: PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of mini vacuum drainage in repair of donor site defect after forearm free flap harvest. METHODS: Free forearm skin flaps were applied for repairing defects after tumor resection in 44 patients with oral and maxillofacial carcinoma. Full thickness abdominal flaps were used to repair the donor site defects with mini vacuum drainage (experimental group, n=22) and traditional compression(control group, n=22), respectively. The total drainage in forearm area, healing condition of transplanted flaps and patients' satisfaction were observed after operation. SAS 9.4 software package was used for data analysis. RESULTS: In the experimental group, 20 flaps survived completely with smooth wounds and good healing, meanwhile without scab, exudation and infection. Partial necrosis of the other two flaps occurred on the edge. After simple cleaning and changing dressing, the flaps recovered. All patients were followed up for 6-10 months. In the experimental group, the color of the flaps was closer to the normal skin, the motor and sensory function of hand were normal, while the patients' satisfaction was higher than the control group(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The mini vacuum drainage is safe, effective and low cost for repairing donor site defect after forearm free flap harvest with high patients' satisfaction, it is worth to use and spread.

Key words: Mini vacuum drainage, Forearm flap, Full thickness flap transplant, Defect repair