Reconstruction of the Extended Region of the Upper Auricle Using the Superior Auricular Artery Island Flap.

Kyung, Hyun Woo; Oh, Sang Ha; Seo, Young Joon; Kim, Dong Woon

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Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 2009;36(3):289-293.
Published online May 1, 2009.

Reconstruction of the Extended Region of the Upper Auricle Using the Superior Auricular Artery Island Flap.

Hyun Woo Kyung, Sang Ha Oh, Young Joon Seo, Dong Woon Kim

¹Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea. djplastic@cnu.ac.kr
²Department of Dermatology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea.
³Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
The retroauricular flap has many advantages for facial reconstruction and is performed by many surgeons. However, it is difficult to perform due to limited rotation arc and length of pedicle. We successfully reconstructed the upper region of the auricle and its surroundings with retroauricular flap by using the superior auricular artery as a supplying pedicle. The purpose of this study is to present an anatomic study about the superior auricular artery and its clinical application. METHODS: We investigated the relationship between the superior auricular artery and its surrounding structures through anatomic studies with 7 fresh cadavers and then applied the findings clinically. From February to December 2008, we performed 7 cases of the superior auricular artery island flap to reconstruct the defects in patients operated on skin cancer. Sizes of the defects varied form 0.8 x 0.8 cm to 3.5 x 3.0 cm.
RESULTS
We found that the superior auricular artery is a reliable pedicle for the retroauricular flap, based on anatomical studies. All wounds of the patients were successfully closed. The flap donor site was primary closed except in one patient with a large defect. The aesthetic outcomes of the donor and recipient sites were satisfactory.
CONCLUSION
The superior auricular artery island flap has several advantages. Therefore, we suggest that the superior auricular artery island flap is a treatment of choice for reconstructing soft tissue defect at the upper region of the auricle and its surrounding area.

Keywords: Superior auricular artery island flap

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