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Reconstruction of children's scalp defects with the Orticochea flap
1Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, China.
Insights
The Orticochea flap technique offers a safe and effective method for pediatric scalp reconstruction in children with large defects. This surgical approach provides satisfactory results, particularly when tissue expansion is not feasible.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Pediatric Surgery
- Reconstructive Surgery
Background:
- Scalp defects in children present unique reconstructive challenges.
- The Orticochea flap technique, established for decades, has been evaluated for pediatric application.
- Alternative methods like tissue expansion may not always be suitable for young patients.
Observation:
- Four pediatric patients with scalp defects (traumatic or due to septic emboli) underwent reconstruction using the Orticochea flap.
- Patient ages ranged from 15 months to 7 years, with defect sizes up to 11 x 13 cm.
- The youngest patient reported in the literature (15 months) was included in this series.
Findings:
- All four children achieved satisfactory aesthetic and functional outcomes following the Orticochea flap reconstruction.
- Follow-up periods ranged from 5 months to over 5 years, demonstrating sustained results.
- The technique proved safe and effective for pediatric scalp reconstruction, even for extensive defects.
Implications:
- The Orticochea flap is a viable and safe surgical option for pediatric scalp reconstruction.
- This technique is particularly valuable when tissue expansion is contraindicated or unavailable in pediatric cases.
- Extends the known utility of the Orticochea flap to a younger patient demographic, broadening reconstructive options.
Abstract:
From January 1985 to February 1990, 4 children with scalp defects were selected for use of the Orticochea flap technique for reconstruction. The ages ranged from 15 months (the youngest in the literature) to 7 years. The defects ranged from 6 x 7 to 11 x 13 cm. Three defects were traumatic and 1 was acute lymphocytic leukemia septic emboli in cause. All these children got satisfactory results with follow-up periods ranging from 5 months to more than 5 years. With these preliminary experiences, we have verified that the Orticochea flap scalp reconstruction surgery described 20 years ago can be performed safely even in children, especially when tissue expansion is not suitable or readily available.