Occipito-Cervico-Dorsal Flap for Neck Reconstruction After Postburn Contractures: A Case Report and Literature Review
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Published on: September 29, 2018
Pedro Alvedro-Ruiz1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, Nerea Díaz-Ros1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, María García-García1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
1Pedro Alvedro-Ruiz, MD, is a plastic surgeon at the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Burns Department, La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital, Valencia, Spain.
Because the head and neck are one of the most frequent locations of burns, it is of paramount importance that plastic surgeons and plastic surgical nurses understand the most effective surgical methods for treating neck contractures and the reconstructive technique required for each case. We introduce the case of a 42-year-old woman who presented with a severe postburn neck contracture that was reconstructed with a pedicled occipito-cervico-dorsal flap. We closed the donor-site wound primarily and completely covered the defect with good results. In addition to conventional skin grafts, dermal matrices, and microsurgical techniques, using an occipito-cervico-dorsal flap should be considered for reconstructing postburn neck contractures as it offers good aesthetic and functional outcomes, provides enough tissue and pliable skin, and results in minimal donor-site morbidity.
Because the head and neck are one of the most frequent locations of burns, it is of paramount importance that plastic surgeons and plastic surgical nurses understand the most effective surgical methods for treating neck contractures and the reconstructive technique required for each case. We introduce the case of a 42-year-old woman who presented with a severe postburn neck contracture that was reconstructed with a pedicled occipito-cervico-dorsal flap. We closed the donor-site wound primarily and completely covered the defect with good results. In addition to conventional skin grafts, dermal matrices, and microsurgical techniques, using an occipito-cervico-dorsal flap should be considered for reconstructing postburn neck contractures as it offers good aesthetic and functional outcomes, provides enough tissue and pliable skin, and results in minimal donor-site morbidity.
