title: Climbing the reconstructive ladder in the head and neck.
abstract: This article will give the reader an overview of the techniques used to reconstruct surgical, traumatic or congenital defects of the head and neck. The reconstructive ladder concept is used to provide a framework for understanding these techniques, from the simplest to the most complex, with the highest priority given to selecting the procedure that will provide restoration of form and function with the least risk.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sieczka
authors.forename: Renata V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D006257:Head / Q000601:surgery*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009333:Neck / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps