TY - JOUR
T1 - The arterial blood supply of the helical rim and the earlobe-based advancement flap (ELBAF)
T2 - A new strategy for reconstructions of helical rim defects
AU - Zilinsky, Isaac
AU - Cotofana, Sebastian
AU - Hammer, Niels
AU - Feja, Christine
AU - Ebel, Christine
AU - Stavrou, Demetris
AU - Haik, Josef
AU - Farber, Nimrod
AU - Winkler, Eyal
AU - Weissman, Oren
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 2014 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
PY - 2015/1/1
Y1 - 2015/1/1
N2 - Background Several techniques are currently available for reconstruction of helical rim defects including Antia and Buch's technique. Some of these techniques produce unsatisfying aesthetic results or are time consuming or technically challenging. Herein, we present the earlobe-based advancement flap (ELBAF) technique and its anatomical basis for reconstruction of helical rim defects. Methods A case series of 13 patients with helical rim defects of up to 3.8 cm in length were reconstructed using the ELBAF technique solely or with additional procedures. Patients were followed for the occurrence of complications and evaluation of aesthetic results for up to 8 years. An anatomical assay that included cadaver dissection and anatomical corrosion technique was performed in order to support the ELBAF technique. Results Thirteen patients (68.5 ± 9 years, two females) with full-thickness helical rim defects of up to 3.8-cm length caused by basal cell carcinoma in 92.3% underwent reconstruction surgery using the ELBAF technique solely or with additional procedures. No complications related to the ELBAF technique were encountered during follow-up. Cadaver dissections demonstrated a consistent arterial blood supply emerging from the earlobe area, producing arteries that run circularly along the helical rim. Conclusions Based on the axial vessel pattern, the ELBAF technique seems to be a useful strategy to reconstruct full-thickness helical defects of up to 3.8 cm in length. This procedure can be regarded as a valid addition to the ear reconstruction repertoire, which can be used alone or in combination with other established techniques. Level of evidence: Level 4, case series.
AB - Background Several techniques are currently available for reconstruction of helical rim defects including Antia and Buch's technique. Some of these techniques produce unsatisfying aesthetic results or are time consuming or technically challenging. Herein, we present the earlobe-based advancement flap (ELBAF) technique and its anatomical basis for reconstruction of helical rim defects. Methods A case series of 13 patients with helical rim defects of up to 3.8 cm in length were reconstructed using the ELBAF technique solely or with additional procedures. Patients were followed for the occurrence of complications and evaluation of aesthetic results for up to 8 years. An anatomical assay that included cadaver dissection and anatomical corrosion technique was performed in order to support the ELBAF technique. Results Thirteen patients (68.5 ± 9 years, two females) with full-thickness helical rim defects of up to 3.8-cm length caused by basal cell carcinoma in 92.3% underwent reconstruction surgery using the ELBAF technique solely or with additional procedures. No complications related to the ELBAF technique were encountered during follow-up. Cadaver dissections demonstrated a consistent arterial blood supply emerging from the earlobe area, producing arteries that run circularly along the helical rim. Conclusions Based on the axial vessel pattern, the ELBAF technique seems to be a useful strategy to reconstruct full-thickness helical defects of up to 3.8 cm in length. This procedure can be regarded as a valid addition to the ear reconstruction repertoire, which can be used alone or in combination with other established techniques. Level of evidence: Level 4, case series.
KW - Advancement flap
KW - Helical rim defect
KW - Reconstruction of the ear
KW - Vascularization
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84919459174&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.bjps.2014.08.062
DO - 10.1016/j.bjps.2014.08.062
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C2 - 25260854
AN - SCOPUS:84919459174
SN - 1748-6815
VL - 68
SP - 56
EP - 62
JO - Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
JF - Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
IS - 1
ER -