Neck burn reconstruction with pre-expanded scapular free flaps.

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Burn Reconstruction
• Microsurgery

Background:

• Neck contracture deformities post-burn are challenging to reconstruct due to tissue scarcity.
• Traditional methods like skin grafting yield suboptimal functional and cosmetic outcomes.
• Free transfer of pre-expanded scapular flaps offers a novel reconstructive approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of pre-expanded scapular flap free transfer for post-burn neck deformities.

Main Methods:

• Two-stage procedure: initial skin expansion (400-800 mL expanders) followed by flap harvest and transfer.
• Neck contracture release and scar resection preceded flap transplantation.
• Flap revisions were performed 3-12 months post-transfer.

Main Results:

• All 12 free scapular flaps (100%) were successful in reconstruction.
• Flaps demonstrated excellent aesthetic match (contour, color, texture) with surrounding skin.
• Significant improvement in neck range of motion was observed; donor sites had minimal morbidity.

Conclusions:

• Free tissue transfer of pre-expanded scapular flaps is a safe and effective technique for neck burn reconstruction.
• This method provides valuable functional and cosmetic restoration in selected patients.
• The procedure offers a viable solution with minimal patient morbidity.