TITLE:
Reconstruction of Post Burn Neck Contracture Using Full Thickness Skin Graft
AUTHORS:
Dalia M. El Sakka, Belal A. Al Mobarak, Mohamed Elsayed Mohamed Mohamed
KEYWORDS:
Neck Contracture, Skin Grafts, Donor Site Morbidity
JOURNAL NAME:
Modern Plastic Surgery,
Vol.8 No.2,
April
8,
2018
ABSTRACT: Background: Neck contracture after burns is a major complication that affects
function and cosmesis. The aim of covering the raw area and defects is through
using good quality pliable skin. Full thickness skin graft allows a large
dimension sheet of good quality skin with low donor-site morbidity. Also it
provides similar skin quality to the recipient areas with much less cosmetic
difference. Methods: Four men and eight women underwent neck contracture
release and reconstruction from December of 2015 to August of 2016. Mean
patient age was 29 years (range from 12 to
46 years). Burn scar contracture releases were performed and cervicoplasty was
added for optimal neck appearance. Uniformly full thickness skin grafts were
applied. Both lateral ends of these grafts (release
incisions) were designed with a fishtail shape for sufficient release and to
minimize linear scar band formation in the most lateral region of the neck. Results: Full thickness skin grafts as large as 24 ± 12 cm (in
length) and 10 - 15 cm (in width) were used. All grafts were taken without significant
complications. Range of neck motion increased, and the cervico-mental angle was regained in all patients. A highly natural neck contour was
universally obtained without a secondary debulking procedure. Conclusions: Full thickness skin grafts for treatment of post burn neck contraction give
good functional and cosmetic results. They give similar color match and good
skin quality, also help in regaining of cervico-mental angle.