title: The effect of frostbite on the reconstructed ear.
abstract: A 17-year-old patient whose left ear was reconstructed using a lateral arm fascia and skin graft had done well until one episode of cold exposure approximately two years after the reconstruction. This thermal injury resulted in a localized area of composite tissue loss demonstrating that the reconstructed ear had a higher susceptibility to cold temperatures. The transferred fascia did, however, allow a stable base for granulation and reepithelialization, showing the continued vascularity and regenerative capacity of the transferred tissue. A discussion is provided regarding the susceptibility of free transferred fascia and its regenerative capacity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Yousif
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Denny
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Forte
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Matloub
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Sanger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neimat
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications; D004426:Ear Deformities, Acquired / Q000601:surgery*; D004431:Ear, External / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005627:Frostbite / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods; D014945:Wound Healing