Abstract: Objective To explore the clinical effects of applying VSD technology combined with forearm flap transplantation to repair the deep wound on the forearm and hand of elderly patients.Methods There were 21 old people with deep wounds on their forearms and hands.VSD technology was applied to make the wounds clean and fresh,and treatment methods were made to cure underlying diseases simultaneously.Different types of forearm flaps were designed according to the locations of the wounds,sizes of the wounds,and soft tissue conditions around the wounds.Furthermore,portable Doppler blood flow detector was used to locate the rotation points of the flaps,so that the flaps could be cut and wounds could then be repaired.Results 21 cases which used VSD technology combined with various types of forearm flap transplants to repair the elders' arm and hand deep wound surfaces were successful.VSD application average time was 7 days;the average bleeding volume was about 75ml;no local hematoma,infection and limb ischemia,etc.occurs after surgery;all the flaps were completely alive;follow-up results showed that the patients were satisfied with the duration and cost of treatment,appearance of the wound repair and recovery of limb function.Conclusion The application of VSD technology combined with forearm flap transplantation to repair the old arm and hand depth wound has some characters:tolerable to elderly patients,short flap surgery time,easy and fast operation,small damage,less surgical complications,high success rate of flap repair,and limb function can be saved to a greater extent.Although the appearance is not that satisfying,the application is safe enough for elderly patients.

Key words: vacuum sealing drainage, forearm flap, elderly, forearm and hand, deep wound