Burned ear reconstruction using a prefabricated free radial forearm flap

Abstract

Postauricular skin, postauricular fascia, temporoparietal fascia (pedicle or free), the free radial forearm nap (fascial or fasciocutaneous), and free lateral arm fascial flap, have been used for burned ear reconstruction reported in the literature. Patients who did not have normal tissue around the ear region, because of severe thermal injuries to the external ear, are not available for draping the costal cartilage framework; these patients require free flaps. The author reports a burned ear reconstruction, using a prefabricated free radial forearm fasciocutaneous flap, included an autogenous costal cartilage framework. In this case, the front and back of the cartilage framework were covered with the skin of the forearm flap. This is the main difference from other techniques in the literature. This flap is valuable for burned ear reconstruction, when local tissue and other free flaps are not available.