The preauricular tubed pedicle flap.

Tubed pedicle flaps find limited application for the cutaneous surgeon, but the preauricular area offers particular advantages in reconstructing certain congenital or acquired defects on the pinnae. These flaps are two-staged procedures, the utmost care being required in presurgical assessment and careful handling of the transposing pedicles. The attached vascular pedicle virtually guarantees success in transferring thicker portions of preauricular tissue into deep defects on the auricle. The reconstructive surgeon will find the challenges rewarding in achievement of aesthetic results with difficult problems. To date we have performed 36 two-staged pedicled auricular reconstructive procedures with no untoward complications or sequelae.