Application of Frontotemporal Expanded Flap with Bilateral Superficial temporal vessels in Repair of Large Area Scar Contracture in Face and Neck

Objective To summarize the clinical experience of frontotemporal expanded flap with bilateral superficial temporal vessels in repairing large area scar contracture in face and neck.Methods 14 patients with facial and Cervical scar contracture in our hospital were taken as the research object.With bilateral superficial temporal vessels as pedicles,a 400-600 ml skin dilator was inserted into the forehead and 50-100 ml skin dilator was inserted into the two temporal parts respectively.Within 3-4 months,the water injection volume reaches 2 times of the dilator volume.After maintaining for one month,skin flap transplantation was performed.The frontal flap was reserved for hairline reconstruction,and the flap was cut to cover the area after facial and Cervical scar release to reconstruct the jaw-neck angle.The pedicle division and pedicle trimming were performed 3-4 weeks after operation.Results All the 14 patients completed the operation successfully.The flap expansion time is 5-6 months.The expanded skin flap covers an area of 26 cm×9 cm-42 cm×16 cm,and all the skin flaps survived after operation.Among them,2 patients suffered from flap congestion after flap transplantation.Follow-up for 6-12 months showed that the color and texture of the skin flap were similar to those of facial skin,with natural transition and no obvious bloating.The angle between the lower jaw and the neck is about 90.The anterior flexion,posterior extension,lateral flexion and rotation of the neck are obviously improved compared with the anterior,and the posterior extension is close to normal.Conclusion Frontotemporal expanded flap with bilateral superficial temporal vessels is suitable for patients with large-area scar contracture in face and neck that cannot be repaired after expansion of adjacent local normal tissues.

Clinical Application of Direct Skin Grafting Repair in Popliteal Scar Contracture after Burn in Children

Objective To observe the clinical application of direct skin grafting in repairing popliteal scar contracture after burn in children.Methods From April 2017 to January 2019,30 children with popliteal scar contracture after burn were selected as the research objects.The scar status,knee joint function and quality of life of the patients before and after the operation were compared by direct skin grafting after medium thickness skin removal.Results 30 patients were treated with skin grafting to repair popliteal scar contracture,27 patients healed well,and the survival rate of skin grafting reached 90.00%.The scores of postoperative scar and knee joint function scale(WOMAC)were lower than those before the operation,and the scores of concise health status scale(SF-36)were higher than those before the operation,with statistical significance(P<0.05).Conclusion Scar contracture of popliteal fossa after burn in children can be repaired by direct skin grafting in the skin extraction area after medium thickness skin cutting,which can effectively improve scar condition,restore knee joint function and significantly improve quality of life.

Application of fascial flaps of supraclavicular artery in repair of neck scar contracture

Objective To observe eflect uf fascial flaps of supraclavicular artery on treatment of neck scar contracture. Methods The supraclavicular flaps were designed according to direction of supraclavicular arteries and transferred into detective areas caused by scar releasing.

Clinical experience of airway management and tracheal intubation under general anesthesia in patients with scar contracture of the neck

Background Because patients with scar contracture of the neck are at a high risk of loss of the airway control after anesthesia induction, awake intubation is usually recommended. This retrospective clinical study was designed to evaluate the possibility, safety and efficacy of airway management and tracheal intubation under general anesthesia in such patients. Methods This retrospective study included 1683 patients from January 1994 to December 2006 with scar contracture of the neck, aged 1.5--67.0 years, who were scheduled for elective plastic surgery under general anesthesia in Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College. Based on the results of the preoperative airway assessment, the patients were classified into group 1 （including 1375 patients with the atlanto-occipital extension of 〉20° and the Mallampatti＇s grade I or II） and group 2 （containing 308 patients with the atlanto-occipital extension of 〈20° and the Mallampatti＇s grade III or IV. In group 1, the intravenous induction and maintenance of anesthesia and succinylcholine for muscle relaxation were used. The intubation was done using a modified Macintosh technique. In group 2, the total intravenous anesthesia （TIVA） or the sevoflurane inhalation anesthesia was chosen and the spontaneous breathing was reserved during anesthesia. The intubation was performed by a fiberoptic stylet laryngoscope （FOSL）. The number of intubation attempts, intubation time and relative complications were observed and recorded in all patients. Results In group 1, the intubation was accomplished during the first attempt in 1279 cases （93%） and the intubation time was 〈3 minutes in 1304 cases （95%）. In group 2, the intubation was completed by the first attempt in 114 patients （37%） and 123 patients had an intubation time of 〈3 minutes （40%）. Tracheal intubation was successful by the second or third attempt in 96 patients in group 1 and 156 patients in group 2. Thirty-eight patients required four or more attempts which only occurred in group 2. The incidence of traumatic complication was 2.6% and 9.7% with one intubation attempt in groups 1 and 2, respectively, 12.5% and 17.0% with multiple intubation attempts （one vs multiple attempts in both groups, P 〈0.001）. All nontrauamatic complications occurred in group 2 and laryngospasm and hypoxemia were more common in patients using the TIVA compared to those using the sevoflurane inhalational anesthesia （P 〈0.001）. Conclusions This study demonstrated that with a precise airway evaluation, an adequate preoperative preparation and a pre-planned failed intubation strategy, the anesthetist who was experienced in the difficult airway management could safely perform airway control and tracheal intubation under general anesthesia in patients with scar contracture of the neck. We believe that this technique may be very valuable for the management of a known difficult airway because it is comfortable for the patient and saves time for the anesthetist.

Surgery for scar revision and reduction:from primary closure to flap surgery

Scars are the final result of the four processes that constitute cutaneous wound healing,namely,coagulation,inflammation,proliferation,and remodeling.Permanent scars are produced if the wounds reach the reticular dermis.The nature of these scars depends on the four wound healing processes.If the remodeling process is excessive,collagen degradation exceeds collagen synthesis and atrophic scars are produced.If the inflammation phase is prolonged and/or more potent for some reason,inflammatory/pathological scars such as keloids or hypertrophic scars can arise.If these pathological scars are located on joints or mobile regions,scar contractures can develop.When used with the appropriate timing and when selected on the basis of individual factors,surgical techniques can improve mature scars.This review paper focuses on the surgical techniques that are used to improve mature scars,burn scars,and scar contractures.Those methods include z-plasties,w-plasties,split-thickness skin grafting,full-thickness skin grafting,local flaps(including the square flap method and the propeller flap),and expanded flaps,distant flaps,regional flaps,and free flaps.