Repair of cervical scar contracture with expanded island flaps based on cervical cutaneous branch of transverse cervical artery / 中华医学美学美容杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore an ideal surgical treatment for cervical sear eontraeture. Methods From January, 2005 to December, 2008, 11 eases of cervical sear contraeture (Ⅱ-Ⅲ) were treated with the expanded flaps based on the cervical cutaneous branch of transverse cervical artery. At the first step, one or two soft tissue expanders were implanted beneath the skin at the clavicular-pectoral region. At the second step, after fully expanding, an expanded clavicular-pectoral flap that based on the cervical cutaneous branch of transverse cervical artery was designed and raised completely according to cervical cutaneous defect. And then, the flap was transferred to reconstruct the defect in cervix. The donor area was closed directly or covered with graft. Results The 11 cases were performed with unilateral flaps based on the cervical cutaneous branch of transverse cervical artery. No necrosis occurred. And the cervical contour and function have been mended. All of them had been followed up for 6-18 months with satisfactory results. Conclusions This procedure can be very useful for the plastic and reconstruction surgeons who are confronted with a difficult case of cervical scar contracture. By this means, a lot of materials of reparation with similar color, and texture can be obtained. And this method is simple, safe, and effective.