[Expanded clavipectoral skin flap combined with reverse axis skin flap in repairing cervical scar contracture deformity after burn].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a combined cervical expanded skin flap in repairing cervical scar contracture deformity after burn injury.
Methods: From April 2001 to May 2003, 16 cases (10 males and 6 females) of scar contracture deformity in the cervix were treated with expanded clavipectoral axis skin flap combined with reverse axis skin flap. The tissue expanders were embedded under the part containing cutaneous branches of transverse cervical artery in cervical segments and the second and/or the third perforating branch of internal thoracic artery for the first operation. Normal saline was injected regularly. The expanded clavipectoral skin flap and reverse axis skin flap with perforating branch of internal thoracic artery were designed, the scar in the cervix was loosed or dissected according to the size of the skin flaps, the skin flaps were transferred to cover the wound, and the contracture deformity in the cervix was corrected. The size of the flaps were 9 cm x 5 cm-15 cm x 7 cm.
Results: All skin flap survived. The function and appearance of the cervix was improved significantly after 6-30 months follow-up. However, venous return dysfunction in reverse perforating branch of internal thoracic artery occurred in 1 case, and blood circulation was improved after treatment.
Conclusion: Expanded clavipectoral axis skin flap combined with reverse axis skin flap can be used to repair scar contracture deformity in cervix, which lessen scar and abate the chance to contract again.