Repair of facial defect with expanded skin flap from medial upper arm.
- Author:
Yang-qun LI
1
;
Sen-kai LI
;
Yong TANG
;
Chuan-de ZHOU
;
Ming-yong YANG
;
Wei-qing HUANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Reports
- MeSH: Adult; Arm; surgery; Burns; surgery; Cicatrix; surgery; Contracture; surgery; Facial Injuries; surgery; Female; Humans; Male; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures; methods; Surgical Flaps; blood supply; Tissue Expansion; Young Adult
- From: Chinese Journal of Burns 2003;19(4):223-225
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo investigate the blood supply of the expanded skin flap from medial upper arm and its application on the reparation of facial defect due to scar resection.
METHODSThe operation was carried out for three steps: 1) The expander was embed under the superior proper fascia. 2) The skin flap from medial upper arm was created with superior ulnar collateral artery as blood supply and attributive branches of basilic and axillary veins as blood collection and was grafted onto the facial defect. 3). After being separated from donor site, the skin flap was employed to cover the facial defect with maximal area of 15 x 10 cm(2).
RESULTSSeven patients in all with facial scar and defects were managed with the skin flap. All the grafted skin flaps survived at last with nearly normal skin color, texture and contour. And the scar in donor sites seemed to be neglectable.
CONCLUSIONReparation of facial defects with medial upper arm skin flap after expanding could be recommended. But longer treatment time and some obsessive action of upper limbs and head might be disadvantages.
