title: Free pre-expanded lateral circumflex femoral artery perforator flap for extensive resurfacing and reconstruction of the hand.
abstract: Resurfacing and reconstruction of extensive scars, severe contractures and deformities of the hand are still challenging cases for plastic surgeons. Treatments usually necessitate thin, pliable and broad flaps. Additionally, minimising the donor-site morbidity is an indisputable requisite. The pre-expanded perforator flap technique has been shown to provide extensive, thin and pliable skin with increased vascularity while reducing the donor-site morbidity. Utilisation of free pre-expanded lateral circumflex femoral artery perforator flap in an aesthetic and functional reconstruction of severe post-burn hand deformity is demonstrated. The successful functional and aesthetic outcome that was achieved in the early postoperative period and which still persists after 23 months of follow-up indicates that our technique could be preferably used in the extensive coverage of the hand.
authors.affiliation: Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: emrehocaoglu@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hocaoğlu
authors.forename: Atilla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arıncı
authors.forename: Ömer
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Berköz
authors.forename: Türker
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Özkan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications; D003286:Contracture / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000098:blood supply; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D015626:Tissue Expansion; D060053:Transplant Donor Site
keywords: Expansion; Hand; Perforator flap; Post-burn scar; Pre-expansion; Resurfacing