Tunnelised superiorly based preauricular flap and conchal cartilage graft for antihelix reconstruction

BMJ Publishing Group 2024

Reconstruction of a full-thickness defect of the auricle's anterior surface represents a challenge for plastic surgeons. This report describes the case of a man in his 70s, who underwent radical excision of a squamous cell carcinoma involving his right antihelix. We adopted an innovative approach for the reconstruction of the antihelix, using a tunnelled preauricular flap reinforced with an ipsilateral concha cartilage graft. The flap's base was de-epithelialised, allowing a single-stage procedure. Three months postoperation, no complications arose, and the scars at the donor site were effectively concealed. The aesthetic result was excellent, thanks to the perfect colour match, symmetry, shape of the auricle and the long-lasting integrity of the antihelical structure. This technique allows for accurate reconstruction of the convoluted surface of the auricle in cases of full-thickness defects of the antihelix, without the need to harvest cartilage from other donor sites and in a single surgical procedure.

Cancer intervention; Head and neck cancer; Head and neck surgery; Plastic and reconstructive surgery; Skin cancer; Settore MED/19 - CHIRURGIA PLASTICA; info:eu-repo/semantics/article

Open access content. Open access content

English

SYC oai:publicatt.unicatt.it:10807/276095
10.1136/bcr-2023-259025
info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/scopus/2-s2.0-85185202533
1439666349

UNIV CATTOLICA DEL SACRO CUORE
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