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Reconstruction of Postburn Full Facial Deformities With an Integrated Method
Qing Feng Li1, Tao Zan, Haizhou Li
1*Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China †Hand, Plastic, and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of General, Trauma, Hand, and Plastic Surgery, University of Munich, Munich, Germany ‡Plastic, Reconstructive, Aesthetic and Handsurgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
This study presents an integrated method for total facial reconstruction in patients with severe deformities. The technique offers a reliable option for extensive facial defects, improving both aesthetic and functional outcomes with minimal scarring.
Area of Science:
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Plastic Surgery
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Facial deformities pose significant challenges in reconstructive surgery due to the face's critical role in identity.
- Restoring extensive skin defects and missing features requires advanced surgical techniques.
Observation:
- An integrated method for total facial reconstruction was applied to patients with Type III and IV facial deformities.
- The procedure involved flap prefabrication, skin over-expansion, and bone marrow mononuclear cell transplantation.
- Multistaged revisions were utilized to reshape facial contours.
Findings:
- Forty-two patients with severe facial deformities underwent the integrated reconstruction method.
- Statistically significant improvements in aesthetic and functional scores were observed post-surgery.
- Good skin compliance, normal contours, and improved emotional expression were noted, with minor tip necrosis in two cases.
Implications:
- The integrated method provides a reliable and effective solution for extensive facial deformities, encompassing central and peripheral facial units.
- This approach avoids complex multiflap reconstructions, offering desirable coverage with minimal scarring.
- Achieving a 'perceived normal' facial appearance is facilitated by this technique.
