title: [Microvascular nasal repair using a reversed superficial temporal artery auricular flap.].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A reversed superficial temporal artery auricular flap was presented to explore a new method for reconstructing the defects of the distal nose by microsurgical techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  A reversed superficial temporal artery auricular flap had been used on fifteen patients with nasal defects, including thirteen patients with alar defects and two patients with nasal tip defects. The reversed superficial temporal vessels of the flap were anastomosed with the recipient facial vessels. The size of the flap was 2.5 cm x 2. 0 cm - 4.0 cm x 2.5 cm, the length of the vascular pedicle was 5 - 8 cm, average 6.5 cm
  
  
  RESULTS
  The flap survived uneventfully in all fifteen patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  demonstrated satisfactory symmetry between the reconstructed ala and the contralateral side as well as an excellent tip projection. The donor-site defect was minimal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reversed superficial temporal artery auricular flap offers an adequate length of vascular pedicle of the flap, it delivers a good solution to the problem of the vascular pedicle shortage of the proximal superficial artery auricular flap. This technique may become the top choice in the microvascular auricular transfer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Medical School of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200011, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-li
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kai-xiang
authors.initials: KX
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Wei-gang
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Chu-yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Chuan-chang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Yi-xin
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jia-sheng
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Yun-liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Qian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004431:Ear, External / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000601:surgery; D009667:Nose Deformities, Acquired / Q000601:surgery*; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D016378:Tissue Transplantation; D055815:Young Adult