title: The postauricular cutaneous advancement flap for repairing ear rim defects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Due to the ear's complicated anatomy and closely adherent anterior skin, repairing ear rim defects is often difficult.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We describe a simple postauricular cutaneous advancement flap for correcting ear rim defects of varying sizes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin tumors involving the ear rims of 12 patients were excised. A postauricular cutaneous advancement flap was designed to correct the resulting defects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The postauricular cutaneous advancement flap provided excellent cosmetic results in our 12 patients. Minimal superficial necrosis of the flap was observed in one patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Utilizing relatively loose postauricular skin, this postauricular advancement flap can cover helical rim defects of varying sizes with excellent cosmetic results and low complication rates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Mauldin
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Humphreys
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004431:Ear, External / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*