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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Plast Surg 2023; 56(06): 488-493
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1776896
Original Article

Primary Free Flaps for Coverage and Reconstruction in Acute Facial Trauma

Parvati Ravula 
1   Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences, Panjagutta, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
,
Srikanth R. 
1   Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences, Panjagutta, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
,
Pathan Subhan Khan
1   Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences, Panjagutta, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
,
Rambabu Nuvvula
2   Department of Plastic Surgery, Basavatarakam Cancer Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
,
Rajesh Yellinedi 
2   Department of Plastic Surgery, Basavatarakam Cancer Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
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Abstract

Background Acute facial trauma in motor vehicle accident defects may be associated with skeletal, neuromuscular, or mucosal losses. Simultaneous repair of the critical structures in these defects mandates the use of flap cover; paucity of local tissues necessitates the use of free skin flaps.

Materials and Methods Six free flap reconstructions for acute facial trauma defects over a 10-year period were reviewed. The defect location, associated injuries, flap choice, additional reconstructive procedures, and flap outcomes were analyzed.

Results There were four males and two females with ages between 18 and 63 years. Four defects were located in the lateral face and scalp, and two in the lower central face. Defect size ranged between 96 and 346 cm2. There were fractures in three, facial nerve injuries in two, and loss of facial muscles in one. Five free flaps were anterolateral thigh flap; simple and composite, one was a radial artery forearm flap. Recipient pedicles were the superficial temporal vessels in two and facial vessels in four cases. There were no re-explorations but one flap necrosed on 7th postoperative day on account of invasive aspergillosis.

Discussion Use of free flaps for ballistic wounds is common. In uncommon nonballistic traumatic facial defects, the location, nature of the defect, and type of associated injuries and need for simultaneous reconstructions may dictate the use of free flaps and permit a one stage debridement, flap coverage, and a simultaneous reconstruction of lost functional units.

Conclusion Free flap coverage in high velocity acute facial trauma defects offers a better possibility for primary reconstruction of associated facial injuries and helps in achieving better functional outcomes.

Keywords

acute facial trauma defects - free flaps in facial trauma - primary reconstruction


Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
24. November 2023

© 2023. Association of Plastic Surgeons of India. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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