[Correction of cervical contractures after burns with pedicled latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flaps]

[Latissimus dorsi flap in reconstruction following treatment of giant tumor of the abdominal wall: about a rare case]

We report the case of a 16-year old patient presenting with giant, multinodular, mesenchymal tumor of the abdominal wall occupying the left abdominal region and measuring 25 cm on the vertical axis, 20 cm on the transverse axis, mobile when compared with the deep structures and gradually increasing in volume over childhood and neglected. After small biopsy, which showed desmoid tumor, the patient underwent complete surgical resection of the tumor with immediate reconstruction by free muscolo skin flap of the latissimus dorsi attached to the large blood vessels of the inguinal fold (left iliac artery and left external iliac vein), connected by termino lateral anastomosis. Flap survival was correctly performed and reconstruction was successful.

[Retrospective study of third degree cervico-facial burns]

INTRODUCTION

Cervical and facial burns can be responsible of social and professional exclusions, functional limitations and psychological repercussions. Composite allotransplantation has become a reality for complex facial reconstructions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the sequelae of third degree facial burns that might fit into a facial transplant program.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study in our burn unit from May 2006 to July 2009. We included all the patients with third degree cervico-facial burns. One hundred and eighty seven patients were selected. We excluded 87 patients for insufficient initial photography or lack in the medical data. The topography of the facial burns was analysed for each patient and separated into different aesthetic sub units. A questionnaire was mailed to the patients evaluating the psychological, functional and aesthetic sequelae.

RESULTS

The follow-up was of 12 months at least. Of the 100 patients, 82 presented with partial facial burns and 18 with full facial burns. Of the 82 patients with partial burns, 48% had burns in the chin area, 45% in the neck area, 41% in the cheeks and 37% in the ears. The sub units associated with functional sequelae were the neck (32%) and the peri-buccal and peri-orbital region (11-14%). On the 100 questionnaires, 28 patients responded.

CONCLUSION

Third degree burns sequelae concerned mainly the neck and the lower third of the face. The indication of facial allotransplantation remains rare in the burn patient. The deep carbonisation and the very extensive burn patient with severe functional sequelae where the standard reconstructive procedures are inefficient might be eligible for a facial allotransplant program.

[Surgical strategy for neck burns and their sequelae]

Burns of the neck are common and expose them to functional and aesthetic complications which are sometimes very serious. Care in the acute stage and treatment of sequelae contribute to a common goal of restoration: Maintain or recreate a chin-neck angle and get a quality skin as close as possible to the original skin, in terms of flexibility, texture, thickness and color. The wide variety of cases encountered requires knowing the armamentarium available to us today, and the anatomical basis and clinical underlying indications.