[Treatment of helical keloid with retroauricular skin expansion].
OBJECTIVE
To introduce a new technique for the treatment of helical keloid.


METHODS
The procedure consisted of two steps. In the first step, a kidney-shaped expander of 50 ml was placed subcutaneously in the retroauricular area. Routine inflation with normal saline followed. In the second step, about two months afterwards, the expander was taken out and the helical keloid was excised. The expanded flap was advanced to cover the wound.


RESULTS
The operation has been performed on 12 patients of 16 sites of helical keloid since 2000. Postoperative follow-up from 3 months to 2 years revealed satisfactory results. The reconstructed ear maintained a good contour.


CONCLUSIONS
The technique creates a retroauricular flap rich in blood supply, which can be used to close the defect left by helical keloid excision. It provides a good treatment for the helical keloid replaced with normal skin from the mastoid region.
Zhao
Yan-yong
YY
Plastic Surgery Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing 100041, China.
Li
Ying
Y
Zeng
Xian-kong
XK
Zhuang
Hong-xing
HX
Jiang
Wen-jie
WJ
Hu
Xiao-gen
XG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004423:Ear / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007627:Keloid / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome