title: Super-microdissected local flaps for the coverage of temporal defects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Skin graft is still a method of choice for the coverage of temporal defects. But there are some disadvantages like a "patch" appearance, the need of dressing or longer healing time. Numbers of local flaps have been described for closing skin defects on temporal region. Yet, they may cause distortion of the surrounding tissues, especially in the temporal hairline and eyebrow. We present a series of seven local flaps based on small branches (SB) of the superficial temporal artery (STA) for the coverage of temporal defects, and discuss their advantages.
  
  
  METHODS
  Supermicrodissection of SB of the STA was performed to obtain local flaps for reconstruction of temporal defects after skin cancer excisions in seven patients. Patient's age ranged from 70 to 88 years old and the diameter of defects ranged from 4 to 6 cm. All procedures were performed under local anesthesia except one. In all cases, defects were obtained after skin cancer excisions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The operative time ranged from 55 to 75 min. All flaps survived with an average follow-up of 8 months, reconstructions have maintained a cosmetically pleasing result.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe that SB flaps may be a new option for reconstruction of temporal defects with the advantages of local flaps, without the inconvenience of a skin pedicle. Moreover, these flaps raise the question of the use of SB based flaps for the coverage of moderate-sized skin defects anywhere in the body, and open new fields in reconstructive surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Grand Paris, 114 Rue Edouard Vaillant, F-94805, Villejuif, France; Department of Anatomy, University of Picardie, rue des Louvels, 80000, Amiens, France; Department of Plastic Surgery, Amiens Hospital, place Victor Pauchet, 80000, Amiens, France.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Qassemyar
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gianfermi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sarfati
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leymarie
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kolb
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D004210:Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061525:Perforator Flap; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck