A new approach to retroauricular flap transfer: parietal branch-based reverse flow superior auricular artery island...

The retroauricular region provides adequate tissue of excellent color and texture match for the reconstruction of small- and medium-sized facial defects. In this study, parietal branch of the superficial temporal artery (STA) was used as the pedicle for the retroauricular island flap. Anastomoses between the parietal branch of STA, occipital artery, and contralateral STA were observed to deliver adequate nutritional blood supply to the flap. Total upper eyelid defect in 1 case, malar defect in 1 case, and forehead defects of various sizes in 4 cases were included in our study. Sizes of the flaps varied from 4 x 4.5 cm to 6 x 8 cm (mean 4.7 x 6.6 cm). All cases had venous congestion for 2-4 days (mean 3.4 days). Only 1 case experienced a superficial dermal necrosis of 1 x 3 cm in size in the distal part of the flap. Esthetic and functional results were satisfactory during the 1- to 14-month (mean 7) follow-up period. This flap is thought to be advantageous for the repair of defects and traumas of the forehead and upper eyelid as the pedicle does not develop torsion and dissection is easy.