[Repair of inframammary scars with expanded skin flaps].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate suitable treatment method for contracture of inframammary scars.


METHODS
Nine female patients with contracture of inframammary sear hospitalized in our hospital from July 2000 to July 2007 were subjected to skin expansion around the breast. The sites of incisions were mainly located on the inframammary scars. The expanders were placed around the breast and middle chest near the sternum. On the lateral side of chest, the expander should be inserted at the site parallel to upper level of the breast. The expanders should be placed under deep fascia and superficial to the gland. At II stage of operation, the scars were excised and the subcutaneous tissues should be thoroughly loosened to assure that the soft tissue and mammary gland would be restored to its anatomical position. Expanded skin was then designed as advancement or transposition flaps to repair the defects, or effects were closed with suturing.


RESULTS
Blood circulation disturbance occurred at the tip of a flap in one patient, with the size of 4.0 cm x 3.0 cm, and the resulting wound healed after skin grafting. Flaps in the other 8 patients survived, and the wounds healed satisfactorily. Nipples and mammary areola were successfully restored to the anatomical positions. Three patients were followed up for 6 months to 2 years, and the result was satisfactory.


CONCLUSIONS
Expanded flap is feasible for repairing contracture of inframammary scar and with good result.
Institute of Plastic Surgery, Xinjng Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
Xian-jie
XJ
Ma
Pai
P
Peng
Yan
Y
Zheng
Shu-zhong
SZ
Guo
Yan
Y
Han
Kai-hua
KH
Lu
D000293:Adolescent; D001940:Breast; D002648:Child; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult