[Repair of facial and cervical scars with expanded deltopectoral flaps].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the methods for repair of facial and cervical scars after burn.


METHODS
One hundred and two patients with facial and cervical scars as a result of burn injury were repaired by unilateral or bilateral deltopectoral flaps after expansion with pedicles. First, facial scars were excised and contractures were released to restore eye, mouth and nose to normal anatomical position. The facial scar flaps were overturned to join with the pedicles of deltopectoral flap for closing the wounds. The residual wounds were repaired by delayed flaps without pedicles 3 weeks later.


RESULTS
Among 102 patients, the flaps survived well in 94 cases, and blood supply insufficiency was found in distal end of unilateral flap in 7 cases (depigmentation after primary healing ). Necrosis of unilateral flap occurred in one patient, and it healed after skin grafting.


CONCLUSIONS
Expanded deltopectoral flap is efficacious procedure for repair of massive cervical and facial scars.
Ma
Xian-jie
XJ
Plastic Surgery Institute of PLA, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xián 710032, PR China.
Xia
Wei
W
Zheng
Yan
Y
Xia
Wen-sen
WS
Lu
Kai-hua
KH
Guo
Shu-zhong
SZ
Han
Yan
Y
Lu
Bing-lun
BL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005145:Face / Q000473:pathology; D005151:Facial Injuries; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013909:Thorax; D055815:Young Adult