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Reconstruction of neck scar contractures using supraclavicular flaps: retrospective study of 30 cases
Vu Quang Vinh1, Rei Ogawa, Tran Van Anh
1Tokyo, Japan; and Hanoi, Vietnam From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nippon Medical School Hospital; and Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Vietnam National Institute of Burns.
Background:
The supraclavicular flap is used to cover chin and neck region defects. Its main vascular supply is the supraclavicular artery, and it can be harvested as either a skin pedicled flap or an island flap (vascular pedicled flap). The island flap has a wide rotation arc, and both the color and texture match are better for reconstructing contour-sensitive areas such as the chin and neck than those of free flaps harvested from distant sites.
Methods:
Between March of 2001 and November of 2004, 32 supraclavicular flaps were used for reconstructions in 30 patients at the authors' hospital. If circumstances demanded it, the authors transferred the flaps through skin tunnels to reduce continuous scar formation between the donor and recipient sites.
Results:
Twenty-eight of the 32 flaps survived completely, but there were three cases of distal necrosis and one case of 90 percent necrosis. Twenty-nine of the 30 patients were satisfied with both the functional and aesthetic results.
Conclusions:
The benefits of the supraclavicular island flap are clear: it is thin but reliable, and easy to harvest.