[Surgical treatment of post-burn cicatricial deformities of the anterior surface of the thorax].

Operations were carried out on 11 patients with postburn keloidal cicatrix of the anterior chest wall the area of which ranged from 27 to 240 cm2. To, correct the deformity, extensive mobilization of the skin-fat layers of the axillae, subclavicular, region' anterior surface of the shoulder joints, and lateral surfaces of the chest is conducted. After excision of the cicatrix the layers are transposed to the wound and the skin covering is restored. Peripheral necrosis occurred in two patients but did not influence the outcome of the plastic procedures. Tailoring flaps from the mobilized layers causes a poorer cosmetic effect. Study of the results in follow-up periods of 2 to 18 months showed a good esthetic outcome in all patients, which allows the method to be recommended for the management of cicatricial deformities of the anterior chest surface.