title: Post-traumatic ear reconstruction using postauricular fascial flap combined with expanded skin flap.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Post-traumatic ear reconstruction still remains a great challenge for plastic surgeons. In this article, we present the technique of post-traumatic ear reconstruction using a postauricular fascial flap combined with an expanded skin flap.
  
  
  METHODS
  From May 2007 to June 2009, 91 cases of post-traumatic ear defect were treated using a postauricular fascial flap combined with an expanded skin flap. Surgical procedure included postauricular-skin-flap expansion, removal of tissue expander, autogenous rib-cartilage-framework implantation, postauricular-fascial-flap lifting and split-thickness free-skin grafting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With a follow-up duration of 6 months to 1 year, the described technique provided a nice final result, and the reconstructed ears showed good match in size, shape, colour and location to the contralateral normal ear.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Post-traumatic ear reconstruction using a postauricular fascial flap combined with an expanded skin flap is an ideal approach with good final results.
authors.affiliation: Peking Union Medical College, Plastic Surgery Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiaobo
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haiyue
authors.forename: Zhuang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hongxing
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bo
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002356:Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation; D002648:Child; D004431:Ear, External / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D015626:Tissue Expansion; D055815:Young Adult