The long-term follow-up of emergency repair of partial auricle of complete separation by superficial temporal fascia flap combined with severed auricle reimplantation
10.3760/cma.j.cn114453-20240102-00002
- VernacularTitle:颞浅筋膜瓣联合离断耳廓组织回植急诊修复部分耳廓完全离断伤的长期随访
- Author:
Chen CHEN
1
;
Zhenyu WANG
;
Hongyi WANG
;
Yuan JIN
;
Jiulong LIANG
Author Information
1. 锦州医科大学解放军北部战区总医院研究生培养基地，沈阳 110000
- Keywords:
Ear auricle;
Superficial temporal fascia flap;
Emergency treatment;
Follow-up study
- From:
Chinese Journal of Plastic Surgery
2024;40(8):878-884
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To observe the long-term effect of superficial temporal fascia flap combined with severed auricle reimplantation in emergency repair of partial auricle of complete separation.Methods:The data of patients with partial auricle of complete separation admitted to Emergency Clinic of Burn and Plastic Surgery of General Hospital of Northern Theater Command from June 2014 to August 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. All of them were repaired with a superficial temporal fascia flap combined with amputating auricle reimplantation. During the operation, the superficial temporal fascia flap was harvested, and the pedicle was preserved. Then the detached auricular cartilage was removed and used as a replantation scaffold. Then the remaining skin was thinned to create a full-thickness skin graft after cartilage detachment. Referring to the position and angle of the contralateral auricle, the cartilage scaffold was sutured and fixed at the stump of the ear cartilage. The wound was covered with a superficial temporal fascia flap and a full-thickness skin graft, and then packed and sutured. The postoperative observation indicators mainly confirm whether the surgery was successful, the healing condition of the replanted ear, and whether there were problems such as skin flap necrosis, infection, hematoma, etc. The shape, color, texture and tactile recovery of the reconstructed auricle were evaluated by long-term follow-up for more than 1 year. The Vancouver scar scale (VSS) was used to assess scarring in both donor and recipient sites (total score of 0-15 points, higher scores indicated more severe scarring). The Likert 5-level scoring method was used to evaluate the patients’ satisfaction with the surgical results (total score of 30 points, ≥27 points were very satisfied, 24-26 points were somewhat satisfied, 18-23 points were indifferent, 15-17 points were somewhat dissatisfied, ≤14 points were very dissatisfied).Results:A total of 8 patients were enrolled, including 5 males and 3 females. Their ages ranged from 26 to 65 years, with an average of 41 years. All patients had unilateral ear defects, with 3 cases in the left ear and 5 cases in the right ear. The defect areas ranged from 1.5 cm × 2.5 cm to 5.0 cm × 4.0 cm. During the surgery, the harvested superficial temporoparietal fascia flaps ranged from 4.5 cm × 6.5 cm to 15.0 cm × 10.0 cm. After surgery, both the flaps and full-thickness skin graft healed satisfactorily, with primary healing observed in both the donor and recipient sites. There were no complications such as necrosis, infection, or hematoma were observed. The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 9 years, with an average of approximately 6.3 years. Except for one case that required a defatted surgery at the second stage, the reconstructed auricles of the remaining patients were basically consistent with the healthy side, with smooth contour lines, skin color and texture close to the surrounding tissues, and improved tactile sensitivity. In the final follow-up, the VSS scores for both the donor and recipient sites were ≤3 for all patients. All patients rated the surgical outcome as very satisfied.Conclusion:For the partial auricle of complete separation that has no chance of replantation, the use of superficial temporal fascia flap and detached ear composite graft to repair is a reliable and effective surgical method. Patients have good postoperative long-term effects and high levels of satisfaction.
