title: Salvage of expanded skin flap perforation and infection after total ear reconstruction with autogenous costal cartilage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was intended to present methods for salvage perforation and infection of an expended skin flap in total ear reconstruction with autogenous costal cartilage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 2008 and March 2009, 5 patients experienced complications (perforation and infection) after total ear reconstruction. The skin perforations were noted between 29 and 100 days after inflation. Continuous irrigation and suction drainage, local flap transposition, and pillow suturing were used to control the perforation and infection. Continuous irrigation and suction drainage, especially, should be maintained until ascertaining a negative conversion of the wound culture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perforation and infection of the reconstructed ear with an expanded skin flap healed successfully using continuous irrigation and suction drainage, local flap transposition, and pillow suturing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that continuous irrigation and suction drainage with only minimal debridement of grafted autogenous costal cartilage could be satisfactory solutions for salvaging total ear reconstruction after complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Yonsei University Health System, Severance Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Bypark53@yuhs.ac
authors.forename: Sang Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Beyoung Yun
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002356:Cartilage / Q000637:transplantation*; D002648:Child; D003646:Debridement; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D004431:Ear, External / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000379:methods