[Microvascular nasal repair using a reversed superficial temporal artery auricular flap.].
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.
Li
Sheng-li
SL
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Medical School of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200011, China.
Cheng
Kai-xiang
KX
Cao
Wei-gang
WG
Yin
Chu-yang
CY
Dai
Chuan-chang
CC
Zhang
Yi-xin
YX
Dong
Jia-sheng
JS
Qian
Yun-liang
YL
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