The Inguinal Adipodermal Graft: a Single-Stage Technique for Cranial Linear Grove-like Defects Correction

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Craniofacial Reconstruction
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Craniofacial defects often result from trauma or tumor removal, leading to aesthetic and functional irregularities.
• Palacos R-40 is commonly used but can cause noticeable cranial and facial shape deformities.
• Existing reconstruction methods may have limitations in achieving optimal aesthetic results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a single-stage inlay autologous adipodermal (AD) graft for correcting post-traumatic craniofacial defects.
• To assess graft survival, volume stability, and aesthetic outcomes in patients undergoing craniofacial reconstruction.
• To present an original surgical approach for managing complex craniofacial contour deformities.

Main Methods:

• A customized adipodermal (AD) graft was harvested from the inguinal region and used as an inlay autologous graft.
• The technique was applied in 5 cases of craniofacial post-traumatic defects between 2009 and 2015.
• Three cases involved defects from Palacos R-40 cranial reconstruction, and two from maxillofacial tumor removal.

Main Results:

• The inlay autologous AD graft achieved 100% survival in all treated cases.
• No complications were reported during or after the surgical procedures.
• Satisfactory aesthetic results were achieved in all patients, with no noticeable reduction in graft volume.

Conclusions:

• The inguinal inlay autologous AD graft represents an original, single-stage procedure for correcting cranial and facial grove-like defects.
• This technique offers a versatile option for achieving predictable and aesthetically pleasing results in craniofacial reconstruction.
• The procedure is relatively straightforward to perform, providing a reliable solution for complex post-traumatic deformities.