title: [Reconstruction of postburn facial scar contracture deformity with expanded flap containing cervical cutaneous branch of transverse cervical artery].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of expanded flap containing cervical cutaneous branch of transverse cervical artery (TCA) on reconstruction of postburn facial scar contracture deformity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six patients with postburn facial scar contracture deformity, hospitalized from September 2011 to January 2016, with the scar area ranging from 12 cm×10 cm to 20 cm×15 cm, were reconstructed with expanded flap containing cervical cutaneous branch of TCA. One expander of 300 mL or 350 mL implanted in anterior pectoral area was injected for excessive expanding; one patient was conducted with expansion in both sides of the anterior pectoral area. The volume of expansion varied from 1 260 to 2 010 mL after 6 to 15 months. Two flaps were delayed for their poor blood supply. After expansion, the flaps with the area ranging from 20 cm×7 cm to 25 cm×9 cm were transferred with no tension to cover the wounds after scar excision. The donor site was closed directly. Three to four weeks later, the vascular pedicle was dissected combined with local reconstruct surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the flaps survived, with two wounds suffered delayed healing. During the follow-up for 4 to 15 months, the flaps were thin and soft with good sensation and color close to the facial skin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expanded flap containing cervical cutaneous branch of TCA is a good choice for reconstruction of postburn facial scar contracture deformity because of its good texture and color, thin thickness, as well as it can provide large avaliable area while causing less injury to the donor site.
authors: Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Xu
authors: S Q
authors: SQ
authors: Wang
authors: X
authors: X
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Lin
authors: H H
authors: HH
authors: Ge
authors: Q
authors: Q
authors: Tan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery*; D003286:Contracture; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009333:Neck; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012867:Skin; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014945:Wound Healing