Repair of neck radiation ulcer with superficial cervical artery flap
10.3760/cma.j.cn114453-20200106-00004
- VernacularTitle:应用颈浅动脉皮瓣修复颈部放射性溃疡
- Author:
Gang LI
1
;
Zhi ZHANG
;
Yeyang LI
;
Jun HUANG
;
Jinlun WANG
Author Information
1. 暨南大学附属广州红十字会医院烧伤整形科 510220
- Keywords:
Surgical flaps;
Skin ulcer;
Radiation injuries;
Wound healing;
Superficial cervical artery
- From:
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery
2021;37(2):152-157
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To explore the method and clinical effect of repairing neck radiation ulcer with superficial cervical artery flap.Methods:January 2016 to June 2019, 11 cases of neck radiation ulcer were repaired with superficial cervical artery flap. The ulcer occurred 13.4 years after radiotherapy on average, with an area between 1 cm×2 cm and 3 cm×7 cm, extensive fibrosis.After pathological examination, surgical removal of ulcer and surrounding fibrotic tissue, and avoid injuring the neck’s main blood vessels. Wound size after debridement: 6 cm×9 cm-8 cm×13 cm. The flap rotation point is 4-5 cm beside the spine on the acromion level.The flaps were designed along the skin branch of the superficial cervical artery which located by the Doppler blood flow detector.The distance from the rotation point to the flap’s proximal edge is about 2 cm longer than that of the wound’s proximal edge.The size of the flap is about 2 cm larger than the wound.Then the flaps were excised from far to near after exposing the pedicle. The flap was then transferred to the neck to repair the defect formed by the radiation ulcer’s excision. If the tension is low, the donor sites were dissociated about 2-3 cm, then sutureddirectly after reducing tension.If the tension is high, part of the donor site was sutured to reduce the area and then grafted with medium-thickness skin.The postoperative changes of the patient were carefully observed.Among them, 7 cases underwent one-stage operation, 4 cases underwent two-stage operation after the donor area’s pre-expansion.Results:All patients with radiation ulcers were healed completely.The appearance and function of the operation area were good.Followed up for 6-24 months, no recurrences of radiation ulcer were observed. Among them, the flaps of 10 cases survived completely, and the wound healed in one stage.The distal area of the flap necrosed in one case, and repaired by dressing change and skin grafting.Conclusions:Radiation ulcer of the neck is a serious long-term complication after radiotherapy. Once it occurs, it is difficult to heal by conservative treatment. Skin grafting is difficult to survive as well. The superficial cervical artery flap has a constant and abundant blood supply and a hidden donor area, which is a feasible method for the treatment of radiation ulcer of the neck and reconstruction of the function.
