[Fabricated expanded thoracodorsal artery perforator flap to repair cervical scar in children].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate ideal methods to repair cervical cicatricial contracture in children.


METHODS
The expanders were implanted subcutaneously around the cervical scar and above the latissimus. After expansion was completed, the cervical cicatricial contracture was released and the wound was covered with local expanded flaps and free expanded prefabricated thoracodorsal artery perforator flap, leaving no injury to thoracodorsal nerves and latissimus. The wound at the donor site was closed directly.


RESULTS
From July 2007 to October 2009, 10 patients were treated. All the flaps survived completely. All the wounds were repaired totally and the deformities were corrected completely. The patients were followed up for 3-30 months. When the patients grew up, the flaps enlarged simultaneously. The flaps were not bulky and had a good color match. The scar at the donor site was inconspicuous with no functional morbidity.


CONCLUSIONS
The fabricated expanded thoracodorsal artery perforator flaps is an ideal method for severe cervical cicatricial contracture in children.
Wang
Ai-Wu
AW
Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Center Hospital of Hanzhong City, Shanxi Province, Hanzhong 723000, China.
Zhang
Wan-Feng
WF
Li
Jin-You
JY
Zhang
Xiao-Feng
XF
Liang
Feng
F
Niu
Xue-Tao
XT
Li
Lin
L
Zhao
Li-Liang
LL
Gao
Qiu-Fang
QF
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery*; D003286:Contracture / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply; D015626:Tissue Expansion; D016896:Treatment Outcome