title: [Reconstruction of segmental ear helix defect with post-auricular skin flap].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the method of repairing segmental ear helix defect.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one patients with segmental ear helix defect were repaired with post-auricular skin flap. In the first stage operation, ear helix defect was assessed, including the anterior and posterior area defect. According to the defect, post-auricular skin flap was designed and transplanted to repair the defect. Six weeks later, the pedicle of the post-auricular skin flap was cut off, elevated, and folded to form the helix. The secondary defect was directly sutured or repaired with skin graft.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one patients were treated with this method. In two to 12 months follow-up, all flaps survived and reconstructed ear helices were in good shape. The reconstructed ears were in symmetry to the healthy ones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The method is safe and effective for the correction of segmental ear helix defect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou 450003, China. ssk999999@163.com
authors.forename: Shen-song
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Dong-yi
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hong-jian
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Teng-xiao
authors.initials: TX
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Zheng-wen
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054644:Ear Auricle / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D004431:Ear, External / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult