title: Application of the expanded lateral thoracic pedicle flap in face and neck reconstruction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Massive scars of face and neck cause severe esthetic and functional problems in patients. To achieve better outcomes, in this study, we demonstrate the use of the expanded lateral thoracic pedicle flap, which provides a large and thin flap that matches the face and neck area in color and texture with minimal donor site morbidities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Firstly, a tissue expander was embedded in the lateral thoracic region. After water inflation, the expanded lateral thoracic flap was elevated as a pedicle flap and was then transferred to replace scar tissue of the head and neck. Doppler ultrasound examinations were employed pre-operatively to identify the path of the nutrient arteries of the flap. A surgical delay procedure was performed two weeks prior to flap transfer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten patients were treated with this method. For 9 patients, the outcomes were satisfactory and were not characterized by obvious flap contraction after 3-17 months of follow-up. The final patient sustained flap necrosis in the distal one-third of the flap. The donor sites were primarily closed in 80% of the cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expanded lateral thoracic pedicle flap proved to be a reliable method with satisfactory outcomes for skin reconstruction of the face and neck.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qingfeng
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Shuangbai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zan
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery*; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013909:Thorax; D015626:Tissue Expansion / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Face and neck reconstruction; Lateral thoracic flap; Pedicle flap; Tissue expansion