ObjectiveTo study the treatment results of the pre-expanded flaps for scar contracture on face, neck, and joints by comparing with the skin grafts. MethodsA total of 240 cases of scar contracture between July 2004 and June 2014 were included in the study by random sampling; skin grafts were used in 120 cases (skin graft group), and preexpanded flaps in 120 cases (pre-expanded flap group). There was no significant difference in age, sex, injury sites, and disease duration between 2 groups (P>0.05). Re-operation rate and A&F 0-6 quantization score were used to evaluate the treatment results. ResultsThe patients were followed up 12 to 75 months (mean, 23.47 months) in the skin graft group, and 12 to 61 months (mean, 19.62 months) in the pre-expanded flap group. The re-operation rate of the skin graft group was 72.5% (87/120), and was significantly higher than that of the pre-expanded flap group (19.2%, 23/120) (P=0.000). The re-operation rate of the neck contracture in teenagers was the highest. It was 93.9% in the skin graft group and 35.0% in the pre-expanded flap group. In the patients who did not undergo re-operations, A&F 0-6 quantization score of the skin graft group was 2.85±1.12, and was significantly lower than that of the pre-expanded flap group (5.22±0.74) (t=13.830, P=0.000). ConclusionPre-expanded flap for scar contracture on face, neck, and joints has lower re-operation rate and better aesthetic and functional restoration than skin graft. It should be regarded as the preferred method for teenagers.
Objective To evaluate the effect of a combined cervicalexpanded skin flap in repairing cervical scar contracture deformity after burn injury. Methods From April 2001 to May 2003, 16 cases （10 males and 6 females）of scar contracture deformity in the cervix were treated withexpanded clavipectoral axis skin flap combined with reverse axis skin flap．The tissue expanders were embedded under the part containing cutaneous branches of transverse cervical artery in cervical segments and the second and/or the third perforating branch of internal thoracic artery for the first operation. Normal saline was injected regularly. The expanded clavipectoral skin flap and reverse axis skin flap with perforating branch of internal thoracic artery were designed,the scar in the cevix was loosed or dissected according to the size of the skinflaps, the skin flaps were transferred to cover the wound, and the contracture deformity in the cervix was corrected. The size of the flaps were 9 cm×5 cm-15 cm×7 cm. Results All skin flap survived. The function and appearance of the cervix was improved significantly after 6-30 months follow-up. However, venous return dysfunction in reverse perforating branch of internal thoracic artery occurred in 1 case, andblood circulation was improved after treatment. Conclusion Expanded clavipectoral axis skin flap combined with reverse axis skin flap can be used to repair scar contracture deformity in cervix, which lessen scar and abatethe chance to contract again.
Objective To probe the principle and the method to repair facial soft tissue defect with the prefabricated expander flap the neck with the vessles of temporalis superficialis. Methods The expandor was implanted into the surface layer of the platysma in neck. The pedicle of the expander flap contained the arteria temporalis superficialis and its ramux parietalis. After 3 months, the prefabricated island expander flaps pedicled with the arteria temporalis superficialis and its ramux parietalis could be transferred to the face. From 1998 to 2003, 6 cases of facial soft tissue defects were repaired. The maximal flap size was 12 cm×8 cm.Thepedicel length was 7.8 cm.Results After a follow-up of 3-6 months, all expander flaps survived. The excellent function and cosmetic result were achieved. Conclusion The prefabricated expander flaps of the neck pedicled with the arteria temporalis superficialis and its ramux parietalis can be transferred to the upperface to repair tissues defect. The supply of blood of the prefabricated expander flaps were safe and reliable. The survived areas of the flaps are directly proportional to the areas of temporalis superficialis fascia combining the expander flaps.
Objective To investigate the method to repair immedicable ulcer in skull cap in senile patient and the clinical effect of expanded bipedical axialflap in skull cap. Methods From September 2002 to June 2006, 5 patients with immedicable and chronic ulcer in skull cap were treated. All patients were males, aging 55-76 years. Among them, the causes of disease were trauma in 1 case, infection in 1 case, squamous cell carcinoma in 2 cases, and basal cell carcinoma in 1case. The disease course was 625 months. All patients had been treated by 1-4 operations. The area of ulcer ranged from 5 cm×3 cm to 10 cm×9 cm. At first stage,soft tissue expander was implanted under the frontal branch of superficial temporal artery and the musculus frontalis according to preoperative design. Then periodic saline injection was carried out after operation. At second stage, the soft tissue expander was taken out. The immedicable ulcer in skull cap was removed,then expanded bipedical axial flap in forehead was designed and transferred to the wound according to the size of the wound. And the donor site was covered with odd expanded flap or splitthickness skin graft. The defect size was 6.0 cm×3.5 cm to 12.0 cm×10.5 cm. The size of the flap was from 26 cm×10 cm to 34 cm×17cm. Results All the expanded bipedical axial flap survived after operation. The wound had a primary healing. The donor sites healed well. No complications occurred at donor site. All patients were followed up from 3 to 24 months (mean 10 months).No ulcer recurrence and no incompetence in papebral fissurewas found. The patients were satisfied with the operation results. Conclusion The satisfactory clinical results are obtained in repairing immedical ulcer in skull cap in old patients by using expanded bipedical axial flap in skull cap. This operation design can be used as a new method to repair immedical ulcer in skull cap in senile patients.
Objective To explore the feasibility and effectiveness of sideburn reconstruction using the expanded island scalp flap based on the parietal branch of the superficial temporal vessel. Methods Between February 2012 and April 2015, 7 patients underwent sideburn reconstruction. There were 3 males and 4 females with an average age of 15 years (range, 4-44 years). The etiologies included burn injury in 3 cases, trauma in 1 case, radiation therapy in 1 case, and congenital melanocytic nevus in 2 cases. The size of the sideburn defects ranged from 5.0 cm×3.5 cm to 16.0 cm×10.0 cm. At the first-stage, according to the sideburn defect, a tissue expander of the appropriate size was inserted beneath the superficial temporal fascia which containing the parietal branch of the superficial temporal vessel. Postoperatively, regular saline injection was commenced. After 3-6 months of the first-stage surgery, the expander was adequately inflated. While the second-stage surgery was performed, the lesion was excised and the tissue expander removed. The expanded island scalp flap based on the parietal branch of the superficial temporal vessel was harvested and advanced towards the defect of the sideburn according to the contralateral normal one, and the size of flap ranged from 8 cm×3 cm to 17 cm×11 cm. The donor site was closed primarily. Results All flaps survived and the wound and donor sites were healed primarily without any complication. All patients were followed up 1-36 months (mean, 9.8 months). The profile, hair density, and hair direction of the new sideburn were similar to the contralateral sideburn. In 1 patient, the reconstructed sideburn was a little larger than the contralateral normal one. After laser hair removal, the patient was satisfied with the appearance. Conclusion The expanded island scalp flap based on the parietal branch of the superficial temporal vessel provides an effective option for the sideburn reconstruction, which presents with the similar appearance to the contralateral one.
Objective To explore the method and effectiveness of abdominal expanded subdermal vascular plexus skin flaps in repairing dorsal hand scar. Methods Between May 2005 and October 2010, 16 cases of dorsal hand scars weretreated with the abdominal expanded flaps. There were 13 males and 3 females, aged 22.5 years on average (range, 10-35 years). Defect was caused by burn in 10 cases, hot crush injury in 4 cases, and scald injury in 2 cases. The average scar formation was 21 months (range, 1 year and 6 months to 2 years). The patients had flexion restriction of metacarpophalangeal joint and interphalangeal joint. The scar size ranged from 11 cm × 7 cm to 18 cm × 10 cm. The expander was implanted in abdominal skin and inflated with water regularly at the first stage. After 2 weeks, the expanded pedicled flap was trasferred to repair wounds in which scars were excised. The flap size ranged from 12 cm × 9 cm to 19 cm × 12 cm. After being cut off the pedicle at 14 days, the fingers were divided, and the digital web was formed. The abdominal donor site was directly sutured. Results All flaps survived. The wound and donor site achieved primary heal ing. Sixteen cases were followed up 1 year and 2 months to 3 years with an average of 2 years and 3 months. The flaps had soft texture and good flexibil ity. At last follow-up, hand function was graded as excellent in 13 cases, good in 2 cases, and poor in 1 case with an excellent and good rate of 93.7% according to the total active motion evaluation system. Conclusion Abdominal expanded subdermal vascular plexus skin flap is an effective method to repair large scar of the dorsal hand because it has satisfactory texture, fast rebuilding of blood supply, and large area of survival.
Objective To summarize the monitoring methods and preventions of the disorder of blood supplying of expanded flaps, so as to provide some references for improving the survival of expanded flaps. Methods The domestic and abroad related literature about the disorder of blood supplying of expanded flaps was reviewed and analyzed. Results Handheld Doppler, digital subtraction angiography, computer tomographic angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, and fluorescein angiography can be used as reliable preoperative imaging methods in designing expanded flaps with rich blood supply. Several techniques can be used for monitoring the blood supply of expanded flaps during the early postoperative period including traditional monitoring via physical examination, monitoring via dynamic infrared thermography, near-infrared spectroscopy tissue oximeter, external and implantable Doppler, and more recently developed diffuse correlation spectroscopy. Surgical delay, bloodletting, leech therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, and so on can decrease the risk of necrosis in expanded flaps. Conclusion The survival of expanded flap is influenced by many factors. Preoperative design by using handheld Doppler and new imaging technology and postoperative early detection of blood supply can provide references of timely intervention, so that ischemic necrosis of the flaps can be reduced, and the success rate of surgery can be improved.