[Clinical research of sideburn reconstruction with expanded island scalp flap based on parietal branch of superficial temporal vessel].

Objective: To explore the feasibility and effectiveness of sideburn reconstruction using the expanded island scalp flap based on the parietal branch of the superficial temporal vessel.

Methods: Between February 2012 and April 2015, 7 patients underwent sideburn reconstruction. There were 3 males and 4 females with an average age of 15 years (range, 4-44 years). The etiologies included burn injury in 3 cases, trauma in 1 case, radiation therapy in 1 case, and congenital melanocytic nevus in 2 cases. The size of the sideburn defects ranged from 5.0 cm×3.5 cm to 16.0 cm×10.0 cm. At the first-stage, according to the sideburn defect, a tissue expander of the appropriate size was inserted beneath the superficial temporal fascia which containing the parietal branch of the superficial temporal vessel. Postoperatively, regular saline injection was commenced. After 3-6 months of the first-stage surgery, the expander was adequately inflated. While the second-stage surgery was performed, the lesion was excised and the tissue expander removed. The expanded island scalp flap based on the parietal branch of the superficial temporal vessel was harvested and advanced towards the defect of the sideburn according to the contralateral normal one, and the size of flap ranged from 8 cm×3 cm to 17 cm×11 cm. The donor site was closed primarily.

Results: All flaps survived and the wound and donor sites were healed primarily without any complication. All patients were followed up 1-36 months (mean, 9.8 months). The profile, hair density, and hair direction of the new sideburn were similar to the contralateral sideburn. In 1 patient, the reconstructed sideburn was a little larger than the contralateral normal one. After laser hair removal, the patient was satisfied with the appearance.

Conclusion: The expanded island scalp flap based on the parietal branch of the superficial temporal vessel provides an effective option for the sideburn reconstruction, which presents with the similar appearance to the contralateral one.