title: Reconstruction of the oral commissure after an electrical burn.
abstract: A burn of the oral commissure is one of the most common types of electrical injury in children. To minimize postoperative wound contracture in late reconstructive surgery, a functional reconstruction that combines excision of the burn scar with lateral advancement of the orbicularis oris muscle, re-creation of the modiolus labii, and reestablishment of vermilion continuity has been developed. Functional restoration of the labial musculature to the preinjury position with re-creation of the modiolus labii and reestablishment of vermilion continuity appears to significantly decrease the amount of postoperative wound contracture (p less than 0.025).
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University Medical School, Department of Surgery, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pensler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
mesh_terms: D002058:Burns, Electric / Q000601:surgery*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013165:Splints; D013997:Time Factors