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Objective:To explore the choice of skin flap design and clinical effects of skin soft tissue expansion in the treatment of body surface lesions.Methods:From January 2018 to December 2020, the Department of Plastic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of the Air Force Medical University performed skin and soft tissue expansion in 148 patients with scars and nevus, including 83 males and 65 females. The age ranged from 4 to 52 years. According to the distance of the donor area, the expanded flap was divided into adjacent local flap and distal pedicled axial flap. An appropriate volume expander was embedded under the donor area flap. The expander was expanded regularly for 8-24 weeks, and the displacement of expander and other complications were avoided.Results:A total of 212 dilators were implanted in 148 patients, and the damaged area was completely repaired after 1 or 2 dilation operations. The expanded flaps were effectively used. The flap transfer was consistent with the first-stage design, with fewer auxiliary incisions, hidden and inconspicuous scars, and maximum repaired area was 22 cm×18 cm; the incidence of dilator complications (16 cases with 21 dilators) was 9.90%.Conclusions:Paying attention to the reasonable design and selection of flap in stage Ⅰ operation can make effective use of expanded flap in stage Ⅱ operation, fully repair body surface lesions, reduce auxiliary incision and achieve the best repair effect.
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Objective:To explore whether botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) can improve the retention rate of fat transplantation in fat breast augmentation.Methods:Each patient was divided into control side and experimental side according to the random number table in 14 patients studied. The experimental group received autologous fat and BTX-A combined transplantation on both sides of the breast, while the control side only received autologous fat transplantation. The fat was added with the same volume of normal saline as BTX-A in the control group. All patients were followed up and the effects of BTX-A were evaluated objectively via the comparison of the remained bilateral fat graft volumes that were obtained through a digital three-dimensional reconstructions technique. Moreover, the improvement of each breast appearance and complication were assessed by the physician and patients who were blinded to the recipient treatment assignment.Results:The outcome of the fat breast augmentation was evident for both groups at the follow-up with no evidence of fat embolism, vascular/nervous injury, infection and prolonged bruising. In one of the 14 patients (control group), fat liquefaction necrosis occurred in one side of the breast; after active treatment, it returned to normal, and three patients had different degrees of mass. The analysis on the three-dimensional reconstruction data and the assessments from both the physicians and patients showed significant differences in the fat graft retention volume between the BTX-A group (51.10±20.56)% and the control group (33.06±14.77)%. Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two sides.Conclusions:Autogenous fat breast augmentation is safe and effective. This study result has shown that BTX-A can significantly improve the retention rate of fat transplantation but cannot reduce the incidence of complications.
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Objective To explore the significance of preoperative MRI in the detection of gynecomastia before surgery.Methods From November 2016 to August 2018,we used preoperative MRI to determine surgical options to treat 38 cases of adolescent and post-adolescent patients with gynecomastia.After operation we followed up the patients for 6 months to 1 year.Results The breast had good shape,smooth chest wall,natural contour,and no complications such as hematoma,nipple and areola sensory disturbance.No surgical traces remained in the chest and no recurrence occurred during the follow-up.All patients were satisfied with the surgical effect and chest wall shape.Conclusions Preoperative MRI can clearly show the type of breast development,the proportion of fat and breast tissue,to guide the clinical personalized design of surgical procedures.It can be used as a routine pre operative examination for gynecomastia.
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Objective@#To explore the clinical effects of expanded forehead flaps in repairing midfacial defects.@*Methods@#From January 2003 to December 2018, 19 patients with midfacial defects were admitted to our unit, including 8 males and 11 females, aged 7 to 52 years. One cylindrical expander with rated capacity ranged from 100 to 170 mL was placed in the forehead of patients in the first stage of expansion, and the total water injection volume was about 2 times of the rated capacity of the expander during 1 to 2 months. The area of midfacial defects was 4 cm×2 cm to 9 cm×5 cm after resection in the second stage surgery. Expanded forehead flaps with vascular pedicle of supratrochlear vessels or frontal branch of superficial temporal vessels were used to repair the midfacial defects, with flap size ranging from 5 cm×2 cm to 16 cm×6 cm. The donor sites were closed by direct suturing. Three weeks later, the pedicle was divided. The complications, blood supply after flap transfer and pedicle division, and the treatment effects during follow-up were observed.@*Results@#Among the patients, flaps of 11 patients had vascular pedicle of supratrochlear vessels; flaps of 8 patients had vascular pedicle of frontal branch of superficial temporal vessels. All the flaps survived with no complications and good blood supply after flap transfer and pedicle division. During the follow-up of 6 to 12 months after the third stage surgery of pedicle division of 12 patients, no lower eyelid ectropion occurred, the appearance of the flaps was similar to the surrounding tissue with no swelling.@*Conclusions@#The application of expanded forehead flaps can not only repair the defects but also effectively avoid the complication of lower eyelid ectropion, which is a promising method in repairing midfacial defects.
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Objective@#The incidence of complications after skin soft tissue expansion is relatively high. Occurrence of infection often means the expander has to be taken out ahead of schedule. In this retrospective study, we wanted to identify independent risk factors of infection after skin soft tissue expansion, which could be helpful to guide clinical work.@*Methods@#Demographic information of patients who underwent the skin soft tissue expansion at the department of plastic surgery of Xijing Hospital from January 2003 to December 2012 was collected. Univariate associations with infection were measured by logistic regression and represented as odds ratios. The p-value less than 0.1 was identified the potential risk factor. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios for risk factors of infection. Independent risk factors were identified if the p-value was less than 0.05.@*Results@#A total of 3382 implants were included in the study. The overall infection rate of tissue expansion was 5.2% in 177 implants. The result of multivariate logistic regression showed that preoperative white blood cell count, age, numbers of expander implanted and volume of expander were independent risk factors of infection.@*Conclusions@#Independent risk factors of infection were preoperative white blood cell count, age, numbers of expander implanted and volume of expander. The lower preoperative white blood cell count, age more than 18 years old, more numbers of expander implanted and the bigger volume of the expander, the higher possibility of complications occurred. The result was helpful to guide clinical work and reduce the incidence of infection.
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Objective@#This study aimed to present our clinical experience of the utilization of remnant ear for the inferior part and lobule reconstruction in microtia patient with the fully pre-expansion ear reconstruction technique.@*Methods@#During 2017.01—2018.12, 156 cases of unilateral ear reconstruction were performed. The operation was divided into three stages. Six months after the ear reconstruction, the third stage of the remnant ear utilization was performed. The surgery was planned according to the microtia classification and the remnant morphology.@*Results@#All the patients had no complications. Follow-up period ranged from 7—24 months, and ten months on average. All the patients with typeⅠmicrotia had satisfying results of the inferior part and lobule reconstruction. Sixteen cases of types Ⅱand Ⅲ microtia patients had unfortunate outcomes, because the residual ears were too small to reconstruct the earlobe, and the incisure appeared when remnant and reconstructed ear was connected in cases of severe remnant malposition. The rest of patients were satisfied with the reconstruction.@*Conclusions@#The utilization of the remnant ear based on the types of microtia and the remnant morphology could achieve the satisfying result of reconstruction for most of the microtia patients.
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Objective@#To investigate the functional recovery and cosmetic effects of pre-expanded pedicled deltopectoral flap.@*Methods@#From January 2008 to December 2018, 42 patients with 56 pre-expanded pedicled deltopectoral flaps from Xijing Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University were followed up at least 6 months. 18 of them were male, the remaining were female. And the average age was (24.7±7.3) years. Then the indicators were tested and evaluated. Tubes with different temperatures were used for temperature sensation test. The flaps were stabbed using a 27 G blunt needle to test algesthesia. Tactile threshold was measured by Semmes-Weinstein monofilament. Two-point discrimination was measured by Disk-Criminator. Elasticity of skin flaps was measured by CK-MC®960. Colors of skin flaps were analyzed by ANTERA®3D system, including L*a*b*, melanin and hemoglobin content. And the postoperative scars were evaluated by the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS). The flap retraction rate [(flap area immediately after operation-flap area at the follow-up time)/flap area immediately after operation]was calculated. The satisfaction of patients, doctors and third parties was investigated as well. Statistical analysis of data was performed with SPSS 23.0, satisfaction rate was expressed as percentages. Scar scores were compared by Wilcoxon rank sum test. The values of elasticity, color L*a*b*, melanin and hemoglobin between skin flaps and normal skin were analyzed by paired t test. The difference was statistically significant at P<0.05.@*Results@#The scores of pain, heat and cold sensation were (4.61±0.78), (3.48±0.90) and (4.39±0.81), the tactile threshold was (0.26±0.23) g/mm2, and the distance of two-point discrimination was (10.09±4.79) mm. There was no significant difference in elasticity, color b*and melanin content between skin flap and normal skin of face and neck (P>0.05). The color of flap L*, a*and hemoglobin content of flaps were significantly different from those of normal skin from face and neck (P<0.05). The result of self-assessment of patients (POSAS) showed that there were significant differences (P<0.05) in pain, itch and stiffness between facial and chest donor scar. The result of observer evaluation (POSAS) showed that the scar score for all items around facial flap was better than that of chest donor area, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05), and the retraction rate of flaps was (10.44 ±3.36)%. The satisfaction rates of doctors, patients and the third party were 92.86% (39/42), 71.43% (30/42) and 61.90% (26/42), respectively.@*Conclusions@#Excellent functional recovery and reliable cosmetic effect were observed in the facial-cervical scar repair with pre-expanded pedicled deltopectoral flap. Transfer of pre-expanded pedicled deltopectoral flap is an effective method for the treatment of facial-cervical scars.
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As a revolutionary plastic treatment, skin soft tissue expansion has become one of the three conventional techniques of plastic surgery after skin grafting and flap transplantation. At present, expansion is widely used in the treatment of various lesions in multiple parts of the body. It plays an irreplaceable role in many areas such as scar repair, alopecia treatment, ear, nose, breast, penis and other organ reconstruction and surface tumor management. In recent years, the application of expansion has been constantly evolving, and it has renewed its vitality by combining with new technologies. However, the prevention and treatment of complications of expansion should be paid more attention, the expansion efficiency needs to be improved, the basic research on the skin regeneration mechanism and micro-environment changes of expansion is still lacking, and further exploration is needed. Based on this, the clinical application principles, new progress and experimental exploration of skin soft tissue expansion were reviewed and summarized, and the possible development directions were analyzed.
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Objective To investigate the application of expanded local flap in repairing extremity scars.Methods Thirty patients with extremity scars contracture as a result of trauma,surgery or infection during July 2000 and March 2013 were included.There were 11 male and 19 female patients with age ranging from 11 to 34 years.Tissue expansion,scar resection,flap transfer and scar management were involved in this process.Results There 24 patients suffered from upper extremity scars and 6 patients suffered from lower extremity scars.Expander exposure was noted in 3 patients,and 3 patients suffered from infection during the expansion.During the 6-month to 1-year follow-up,all patients satisfied with the results in terms of the skin texture,color,flexibility after the treatment with expanded local skin flap.Conclusions The expanded local flaps are suitable for the repair of the longitudinal and oblique scars in the extremities.
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Objective To study the temporal distribution of macrophage and its phenotype markers in fibrous capsules around silicone implants.Methods Thirty rats were randomly divided into five groups:days 1,3,7,14 and 35.Silicone prostheses (10 ml) were implanted subcutaneously into backs of rats.On each indicated day,the tissue specimens were collected,fixed in 4％ paraformaldehyde for 24 hours and embedded in paraffin.Immunofluorescence was used to detect temporal distribution of M1/M2 macrophages.Results The number of CD68+ macrophages at day 1 (65.8±12.9) was smaller than that at day 3 (102.8±14.5,P＜0.05) and day 7 (116.8±14.2,P＜0.05);and the number of CD68+ macrophages at day 7 was larger than that at day 14 (56.8±12.9,P＜0.05) and day 35 (21.40±6.35,P＜0.05);the proportion of iNOS+ CD68+ M1 cells at day 1 and day 3 was 0.48±0.13,0.60±0.13,respectively,and they were higher than that at day 7 (0.21±0.03,P＜0.05),day 14 (0.21±0.03,P＜0.05) and day 35 (0.17±0.04,P＜0.05);the proportions of CD206+ CD68+ M2 cells at day 1,day 3,day 7,day 14,day 35 were 0.70±0.06,0.60±0.07,0.70±0.08,0.67±0.02 and 0.60±0.06,respectively.Conclusions After the implantation of silicone prostheses,M1 cells increase in early stages and M2 cells maintain in high level throughout the experiment period.
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Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of nanofat on superficial rhytides of face and neck and dark lower eyelids.Methods From September 2014 to January 2017,a total of 86 cases were collected in our hospital for voluntary nanofat transplantation on superficial rhytides and dark lower eyelids.This was a retrospective study,which included 18 cases of eye wrinkles,14 cases of forehead wrinkles,neck wrinkles in 14 cases,and 22 cases of dark lower eyelids.First of all,we harvested mircofat through liposuction,and then transformed mircofat to nanofat.At last,nanofat was grafted into intradermal layer of the skin with sharp needles.We took the standard photographs of the patients.After six months follow-up,doctors and patients evaluated the short term and long-term postoperative effect.Results No serious complications occurred in all patients.Postoperative evaluation of facial and neck superficial wrinkles showed that the satisfactory rate of doctors and patients after one month,was 85.9％and 84.3％,and after 6 months 87.5％ and 84.3％,respectively.Postoperative evaluation of dark lower eyelids showed that the satisfactory rate of doctors and patients after one month was 45.5％ and 36.4％,and after 6 months 81.8％ and 86.4％,respectively.Conclusions Nanofat can rectify the superficial rhytides of face and neck and dark lower eyelids in some patients.However,for some patients the effect is not satisfied.
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Objective To evaluate the clinical outcome of reduction plasty for labia minora hy-pertrophy with redundant praeputium clitoridis .Methods A total of 84 cases were included from June 2013 to December 2016 .Arc-shaped resection of labia minora and crescent resection of redundant pra-eputium clitoridis were the two essntial surgical procedure ,and 5-0 VICRYL Rapide was used for su-turing the incision .Results The 84 cases were operated with this mothod with satisfactory aesthetic result .Complications ,such as hematoma ,infection and poor wound healing ,were not observed .Ede-ma was resoluted after one to two weeks .After the reduction plasty of the labial labia ,the vagina and perineum were completely covered in the natural state ,without scar ,also the sensitivity of clitoris was improved due to the better expoure post-operationally .Conclusions The same-stage reduction plasty for labia minora hypertrophy with redundant praeputium clitoridis is a reliable and effective method . Both satisfactory aesthetic result and improved sexual sensitivity are achived ,without hematoma ,in-fection and poor wound healing .
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Objective@#To evaluate the application of the expanded free deltopectoral flap, pedicled with perforation of internal thoracic artery, in the repairment of middle to large facial skin and soft tissue defect.@*Methods@#From June 2015 to December 2017, 11cases diagnosed with facial lesions were included in this study. The tissue defect of 10 cases were caused by burn, and 1 case by superficial tumor. In the first stage, the tissue expander was implanted into the internal thoracic artery supplying area. After the expander was fully expanded, the second surgery, i. e. the resection of facial lesion, was performed. The defect areas of patients, with the range of 9 cm×7 cm to 17 cm×10 cm, were repaired by expanded free deltopectoral flaps.@*Results@#All flaps were survived, with no vascular crisis occurred. The size of flaps ranged from 10.0 cm×9.0 cm to 18.0 cm×11.5 cm. All the patients were satisfied with the outcomes, after 6 to 24 months follow-up. The color and texture of flaps was close to normal. The scars were acceptable.@*Conclusions@#The expanded free deltopectoral flap, pedicled with the perforator of internal thoracic artery, is a promising way to repair middle to large facial skin and soft tissue defect.
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The anterior chest is an excellent donor site for cervicofacial reconstruction. Studies of chest flaps began as early as 1988 in xijing Hspital. We created a new flap called the subclavicular flap, which was pedicled by the thoracic branch of supraclavicular artery. This flap shares the similar vascular territory of the deltopectoral flap and is mainly used for reconstruction of cervicofacial wounds. The supraclavicular flap has the same vessel origin of supraclavicular flap but is pedicled by the different branch, the deltoid branch. Its vascular territory locates on the shoulder region. Therefore, many differences and relations exist between the two flaps and there are also some disputes. To enhance the understanding of the two flaps, presenting a summary on the two flaps, especially for their relations and differences.
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Objective@#To explore the nipple-areola complex blood supply mode in hypertrophic breasts, and to obtain the pertinent knowledge of vascular anatomy for breast reduction surgery as well as the analysis of similarities and differences between hypertrophic and normal breasts. Comparing the blood supply of nipples-areola complex between these two groups for analyzing their similarities and differences.@*Methods@#Three dimensional reconstruction of the arteries in breast were performed in 50 patients between September 2015 and August 2017 with breast hypertrophy by computed tomographic angiography (CT angiography). The distribution pattern and the source direction of each main blood vessel was observed, counted and analyzed. Then, the data of breast hypertrophy patients were compared with the previous data about nipple-areola blood supply in normal population (the definition of main vessel: entering the breast gland or reaching the nipple-areola surrounding area, and diameter larger than 1 mm). Statistical description was taken for comparison.@*Results@#135 main vessels were observed in 100 breasts (50 patients). They mainly originate from the internal thoracic artery (69, 51.1%), lateral thoracic artery (37, 27.4%) and thoracoacromial artery(16, 11.9%), as well as a small amount from the brachial artery (7, 5.2%) and axillary artery(6, 4.4%). No main supply vessels from the posterior intercostal artery have been found. The patterns of breast blood supply varied among individuals, and high asymmetry ratio in the same individual was also observed. The internal superior (left: 30.7%, right: 34.2%) and superior lateral quadrant (Left: 29.2%, Right: 20%) of the breast was the most likely area for the main vessel to pass, followed by the breast lateral (Left: 16.9%, Right: 18.5%), lower inner (Left: 4.6%, Right: 5.7%), central (Left: 4.6%, Right: 4.2%), and superior (Left: 1.5%, Right: 2.8%). Differences existed in main vessels between normal breasts and hypertrophic breasts, either for source arteries or the distribution of breast. There was no main blood supply from the intercostal arteries or across the outer inferior quadrant.@*Conclusions@#The blood supply of the nipple-areola is not completely consistent between the hypertrophic breast and the normal size breast, and the blood supply pattern of the hypertrophic breasts is complex and diverse. CT angiography might be used before breast reduction surgery for clarifying the direction of the main vessels, so as to preserve more blood supply for nipple-areola, and to prevent nipple-areola necrosis.
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Objective To investigate the feasibility and clinical effect of transaxillary dual-plane breast augmentation under endoscope combined with autologous fat transplantation.Methods From January 2015 to December 2015,88 patients who accepted augmentation mammoplasty were divided into control group (from January to June) and observation group (from July to December).Patients in control group only accepted transaxillary dual-plane breast augmentation and transaxillary dual-plane breast augmentation combined with autologous fat transplantation was used for patients in observation group.Patients' basic information,surgery-related indicators,recovery situations,complications and patients' satisfactory data were collected.34 patients in control group and 38 patients in observation group were followed up.Results For surgery-related indicators and recovery situations,statistically significant difference was not found in the blood lost,duration of drainage tube and postoperative stay (P＞0.05),but was found in operation time (P＜0.05).And there was no significant difference in terms of surgical effects between two groups (P＞0.05).There were no complications such as hematoma,infection,capsular contracture in two groups.25 patients in observation group were performed B ultrasonic examination 6 months after operation.Multiple cysts were found at the cleavage in only 1 patient and were cured by suction.And the rest B ultrasonic results were negative for pathologic findings such as calcifications,cysts and masses.Conclusions Autologous fat transplantation is useful in minimizing the unaesthetic appearance of the cleavage and the bad feeling of the inframammary fold and thus a proper solution for the patient's breasts with thin soft tissue.
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Objective To observe the effect of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) on the rate of skin expansion and the immediate retract rate of skin flaps in rats,and to explore new methods for drug-assisted skin expansion.Methods 18 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups.After BTX-A or normal saline was injected intradermally into the back marking area,an expander was implanted.The expanders were inflated periodically by injecting normal saline to reach the designated intraexpander pressure.The inflation volume was recorded and the area of marked region was measured regularly.After 4 weeks of expansion,the expanded tissues were harvested and the immediate retract rates were measured.The hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe the thickness of epidermis,dermis and the fibrous capsule,while Masson staining for detection of fibrous capsule collagen.Immunohistochemical staining with α-smooth muscle actin for myofibroblasts was also performed.Results The mean inflation volume and area of marked region of BTX-A group were significantly greater than those of the control group.There were lower immediate retract rate,thinner fibrous capsule,less collagen content and fewer α-SMA positive myofibroblasts in the fibrous capsule of the BTX-A group with statistically significant differences (P ＜ 0.05).There was no signigicant difference in the thicknesses of epidermis and dermis between the two groups (P＞0.05).Conclusions BTX-A can inhibit the formation of fibrous capsule to promote skin expansion,while reducing the immediate retract rate.It possess a potential for assisting effectively skin expansion.
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Objective@#To investigate the feasibility of one-stage thinning of latissimus dorsi muscle, rectus abdominis muscle and gracilis flap in reconstruction of the hand and foot defects.@*Methods@#From June 2009 to April 2015, 24 free muscle flaps were thinned during transfer operation by removing their superficial muscle layers on the basis of their vessel pedicles running in the deep surface of flaps. The surface of the muscle flaps were covered by split-thickness skin grafts. There were 16 latissimus dorsi muscle flaps, 4 gracilis flaps and 4 rectus abdominis muscle flaps. Flap size ranged from 6 cm×4 cm to 20 cm×12 cm. Thinned muscle flaps were used to resurface 7 hand defects and 17 foot defects.@*Results@#All muscle flaps survived the thinning procedures without any circulation problems except for one case which suffered total flap necrosis due to venous thrombosis. Skins grafts on muscle flaps also took well. One patient experienced partial skin loss. Two patients underwent secondary debridement and thinning procedure for infection and bulkiness. During the 0.3-20 months follow-up, the contour of thinned muscle flaps matched well with the recipient areas. Reconstructed feet are able to wear regular shoes.@*Conclusions@#Intraoperative immediate thinning of free muscle flaps can be safely accomplished during the primary reconstruction procedure. This procedure prevents the limitations of muscle flap bulkiness and may provide an alternative for surface coverage.
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Objective To investigate the application of the frontal branch of superficial temporal vessels pedicled flap in repairing lower eyelid ectropion.Methods Eight cases were collected from patients diagnosed with lower eyelid ectropion in our hospital from April 2012 to April 2015.In phase 1 of operation,the dilators were implanted into the frontal branch of superficial temporal vessels and fully expanded by normal saline injection;In phase 2,the scar of lower eyelid was incised,and the expanded forehead flaps were transferred to cover the wound after the lower eyelid released back to normal anatomy location;In phase 3,the flap delay operation was manipulated 3 weeks after phase 2,and the left wound after scar excision was finished by pedicle division 1 week later.Results All patients in the study showed a good appearance and function of lower eyelid.There were no complications such as flap congestion and necrosis occurred.Meantime there were no relapses observed according to the follow-ups ranging from 6 months to 1 year.Conclusions The application of the frontal branch of superficial temporal vessels pedicled flap shows a promising procedure in treatment of lower eyelid ectropion.
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Objective To explore the clinical results of repairing frontal lesions with the combination of the expanded scalp flaps and postoperative laser hair removal.Methods There were 10 patients involved between May 2014 through May 2016 in our department.In the first stage,the expanders were implanted to the pockets under the scalp.In the second stage,the wounds,after lesion removal,were covered by the expanded scalp flaps.In the third stage,laser hair removal was performed 2 weeks postoperatively for 4 to 6 times until complete removing the hair.Results All the lesions were repaired with good results.The incisions healed primarily.The scalp flaps survived without nec rosis.The hair on the flap was removed completely.The color and texture of the flap were similar to these of the adjacent skin.The satisfactory results of the appearance were achieved in all the patients.Conclusions The combination of the expanded scalp flap and laser hair removal is an effective method for the repairing of the frontal lesion.