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Burned ear reconstruction using a prefabricated free radial forearm flap
1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical Faculty of Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey.
Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery
|June 9, 2001
Summary
This study presents a novel technique for burned ear reconstruction using a prefabricated free radial forearm fasciocutaneous flap. This method effectively covers costal cartilage frameworks, offering a valuable solution when local tissues are unavailable.
Area of Science:
- Reconstructive surgery
- Plastic surgery
- Burn reconstruction
Background:
- Previous methods for burned ear reconstruction include postauricular skin, temporoparietal fascia, and radial forearm flaps.
- Patients with severe thermal ear injuries often lack suitable local tissue for framework draping, necessitating free flaps.
Observation:
- A prefabricated free radial forearm fasciocutaneous flap was utilized to reconstruct a burned ear.
- The technique involved covering both the anterior and posterior aspects of an autogenous costal cartilage framework with the forearm flap's skin.
Findings:
- This approach offers a unique method where the entire cartilage framework is enveloped by the flap's skin.
- The prefabricated free radial forearm fasciocutaneous flap proved valuable for burned ear reconstruction.
Implications:
- This technique provides a viable option for complex burned ear reconstructions, especially when local tissues and other free flaps are unsuitable.
- It expands reconstructive possibilities for patients with extensive ear damage due to burns.