title: Release of hand burn contracture: comparing the ALT perforator flap with the gracilis free flap with split skin graft.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of microsurgery in the management of burn sequelae is not a new idea. According to the properties of various types of free flaps different goals can be achieved or various additional procedures have to be combined. We report the comparison of two different free flaps on a single patient for reconstruction of both upper extremities for burn sequelae.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 1-year-old child sustained severe burns on both hands, arms and thorax and was initially only treated conservatively. This resulted in severe contractures. At the age of 4-years a free gracilis flap was selected for reconstruction of his left hand and a free anterolateral thigh flap for the right hand.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We noticed a better functional and esthetic result for the gracilis flap associated with a shorter operative time and a minor donor site morbidity. The intraoperative technique and time, postoperative complications, functional and esthetic results and donor site morbidities were studied in the two types of flaps chosen. A review of literature was also performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience reported a better success of the gracilis muscle flap covered with a split skin graft compared to the anterolateral thigh flap in the reconstruction of hand function after severe burn sequelae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Brugmann ULB University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: martamisani@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Misani
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Brugmann ULB University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: christoph.zirak@chu-brugmann.be.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zirak
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Brugmann ULB University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: donabirini@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Lê Thua Trung
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Hau
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Brugmann ULB University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: albert.demey@chubrugmann.be.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Mey
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Brugmann ULB University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: w.boeckx@telenet.be.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Boeckx
mesh_terms: D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications*; D003286:Contracture / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome