title: Pre-expanded ultra-thin supraclavicular flaps for (full-) face reconstruction with reduced donor-site morbidity and without the need for microsurgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The expanded supraclavicular island flap, as described in 1997 by the senior author (Pallua), is a useful tool for total facial reconstruction, providing satisfactory results without microsurgical prefabrication. The authors report the use of this technique in 12 patients requiring large flaps who presented with extensive facial scarring that had been previously reconstructed using disfiguring, pigmented skin grafts.
  
  
  METHODS
  On the basis of their anatomical dissection studies and knowledge of the constant anatomy of the supraclavicular artery and two draining veins, the authors carefully inserted tissue expanders under the supraclavicular island flaps. After the flaps were expanded, all scars were removed and the covering flaps were transferred into place. Sixteen pre-expanded supraclavicular island flaps were used in 11 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The authors present a method of facial reconstruction that has the advantages of creating a large amount of thin tissue of both good color and texture, without the disadvantages of donor-site morbidity, lengthy operative time, and high cost. In their opinion, this is the method of choice for total facial reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Burn Center, University Hospital, Aachen University of Technology, Aachen, Germany. npallua@ukaachen.de
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pallua
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: von Heimburg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D015626:Tissue Expansion; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices