title: [Repairing alar defects by using a retro-grade island auricle composite tissue flap based on the interconnection of superficial temporal artery and posterior auricular artery].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the application of reverse island auricular composite tissue flap based on the superficial temporal artery for alar defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  16 cases with alar defects were treated with reverse island auricular composite tissue flap based on the superficial temporal artery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the composite auricular flaps survived with primary healing. The patients were followed up for half a year to four years. The survived composite flaps had a similar color, texture and appearance as normal alar. The cosmetic result was satisfactory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reverse island auricular composite tissue flap based on the superficial temporal artery is very suitable for alar defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery , the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanjing 530021, China.
authors.forename: Shi-Hai
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Ming-De
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Qing-Feng
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hai-Sheng
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004431:Ear, External / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009667:Nose Deformities, Acquired / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult