Clinical efficacy of pre-expanded deltopectoral flap on repairing post-burn faciocervical scars / 中华医学美学美容杂志

Objective To explore the method of pre expanded deltopectoral flap for repairing post burn faciocervical scars.Methods Anterior axillary incisions were made and appropriate expanders were implanted above anterior chest wall at the first stage.After a 4 6 months' expanding,the flaps based on perforating branches of the internal mammary artery,branches from the thoracoacromi al area,or perforating branches from deltoid muscle,were designed and raised according to scars and dominant vessels.The donor sites were closed at same time without skin graft.Results 43 patients with 51 flaps were operated for reconstruction of post burn faciocervical scars.All flaps and donor sites survived well.Conclusions Pre expanded deltopectoral flap is an ideal donor site for repairing post-burn faciocervical scars.

Repeated expanded bilateral deltopectoral flap for resurfacing severe facial-cervical scar / 中华医学美学美容杂志

Objective To investigate the application of the repeated expanded bilateral deltopectoral flap for resurfacing severe facial cervical scar, with review of relating articles to discuss issue of repeated expanding flap.Methods Nine patients suffered from hyperplastic facial and cervical scar.Two soft tissue expanders were implanted into the anterior chest region at both sides of sternum.The center of inner border of the expander was at the cross of second intercostal and parasternal line, and the lengthways axe of the expander was located at the ligature of the second intercostals and mammary areola.After two weeks when the expander was filled, expanded flap was transferred to cervical defect.The transferred flap was repeated expanded after half a year and transferred to resurface facial defect.Results In the first expansion stage, 600 or 800 ml expander were implanted in each side of sternum.In the second stage, 400 or 500 ml were used.The first stage of expanding process was smooth, and 2 of the expanding flaps were ruptured during the second expansion period.400-520 cm2 (average 440 cm2) additional expanded flap was acquired during two stages of expanding.Conclusions The repeated expanded bilateral deltopectoral flap gives us greater opportunity to repair severe facial-cervical scar.The best interval time of the two-stage expansion is over half a year.The speed of second expansion should be lower than that in the first stage, and protecting the expanding flap carefully from external force compression is needed during the second expasion.

Clinical efficacy of free expanded deltopectoral perforator flaps for aesthetic repair of large facial scars / 中华医学美学美容杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of expanded deltopectoral perforator flap as a free skin flap for distant transfer to aesthetically repair large facial scars via microsurgical technique.Methods 20 cases of large facial scars were treated with free expanded deltopectoral skin flaps via microsurgical technique.At the first stage,24 large volume expanders were inserted into the subcutaneous pockets in the deltopectoral zone.4 to 6 months later,the second stage operation was performed when the flaps were expanded fully and facial scars removed;deltopectoral perforator flaps harvested choosing the second or the third thoracic artery perforating branches as the pedicle;the surface of the wound was covered with the flaps.Results All of the 24 flaps survived completely and the wounds healed well after transplantation.The 6 months to 2 years' follow-up results showed that the color and texture of the flaps matched the recipient place well without swelling.The superficial and deep sensation recovered very fast.Conclusions It is safe,practical and effective that the delto-pectoral perforator flaps are used to repair large facial scars avoiding the shortcomings of traditional pedicle transfer such as more procedures,longer fixed time,or more wasted expanded skin.Free transfer of expanded delto-pectoral perforator flaps can achieve ideal function and aesthetic effects.