title: Closure of conchal defects. The hinged retroconchal island flap with overlying cutaneous transposition flap.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Conchal defects secondary to surgical procedures or trauma often cannot be closed primarily.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Tissue transfer for closure of defects must be tension free and not create a postauricular sulcus too shallow.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retroconchal island flap provides such a closure. A rhomboid transposition flap used to provide closure of the donor site retains the depth of the posterior sulcus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The closure of the defect heals well within 4-6 weeks even in presence of scar tissue from multiple prior surgeries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The retronconchal island flap is a simple, reliable technique to close the defect of the concha without sacrificing the natural depth of the posterior sulcus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, St. Francis Medical Center, Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63703, USA.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Schroeder
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D004427:Ear Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D004431:Ear, External / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*; D013536:Suture Techniques