Different Transfer Forms of the Expanded Forehead Flap Pedicled With Superficial Temporal Vessels to Treat Chin and Submental Scar Deformities.

BACKGROUND

The chin and submental regions are located at the junction of the face and neck. Its function and aesthetic appearance can be seriously affected when scar deformities cause the cervico-mental angle to disappear. The expanded forehead flap pedicled with superficial temporal vessel(s) is a surgical treatment for chin and submental scar deformities. Different transfer types have developed for this flap based on individual situations. At present, there is no unified treatment strategy for applying this forehead flap to treat different regions and ranges of chin and submental scar deformities.

METHODS

Ninety one cases were collected from patients with chin and submental scar deformities that were treated using the expanded forehead flap pedicled with superficial temporal vessels from January 2008 to December 2018. The authors divided the chin and submental scar deformities into 4 types according to different regions and ranges, and summarized flap survival and complications of 5 different transfer forms used to treat scars for creating feasible treatment strategies. We followed up 76 cases, investigating the satisfaction of appearance and texture of the flaps, improvement of neck movement, and scar recurrence.

RESULTS

Expanded forehead flaps were used to repair 91 cases of chin and submental scar deformities. According to the postoperative flap survival and complications of flap blood supply, the treatment strategies are as follows: Bilateral cutaneous and subcutaneous pedicled forehead flaps are applied to treat scars in bilaterally symmetrical large-scale scars in Zone LCL. Unilateral pedicled forehead flaps are applied to treat small-scale scars in Zone C and Zone L. Unilateral pedicled plus contralateral vascular anastomosis and unilateral pedicled plus contralateral super thin forehead flaps are applied to treat the moderate-scale scars of Zone LC. Mean follow-up period was 81 months (range 28-131), 93.4% (71/76) was satisfied with appearance and texture of the flaps, 97.4% (74/ 76) was satisfied with the improvement of neck movement, and 2.6% (2/76) occurred scar recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

Five different types of expanded forehead flaps pedicled with superficial temporal vessels can be used to repair differential scar deformities of the chin and submental regions and achieve good therapeutic effects.