Objective To investigate the effect of free anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap in correcting the hemifacial atrophy. Methods From January 1997 to May 2006, 35 patients suffering from hemifacial atrophy were corrected with microvascular anastomotic free anterolateral thigh adipofascial flap and other additional measures according to the symptoms of the deformities. There were 11 males and 24 females, aging 1547 years. The locations were left in 12cases and right in 23 cases. The course of disease was 4 to 28 years. Their hemifacial deformities were fairly severity. Their cheeks were depressed obviously. The X-ray films and threedimensinal CT showed the 28 patients’ skeletons were dysplasia. The size of adipofascial flap ranged from 8 cm×7 cm to 20 cm×11 cm. Donor sites weresutured directly. Results Recipient site wound of all patients healed by first intention. All adipofascial flaps survived. The donor sites healed well and no adiponecrosis occurred. Thirty-five cases were followed up for 6 months to 8 years. The faces of all patients were symmetry, and the satisfactory results were obtained. There were no donor site dysfunction. Conclusion The anterolateral thigh adipofascial flapprovides adequate tissue, easytosurvive, no important artery sacrificed and the donor scar ismore easily hidden. Combining with other auxiliary methods, it can be successfully used to correct the deformity of hemifacial atrophy.
ObjectiveBy comparing the mechanics of human auricular cartilage, polyurethane elastic material, and high density polyethylene material (Medpor), to produce theoretical proof on choosing optimal artificial auricular scaffold materials.MethodsThe experimental materials were divided into 3 groups with 6 samples in each: the auricular cartilage group (group A), the polyurethane elastic material group (group B), and the Medpor group (group C). With an Instron5967 mechanical testing machine, compression and tensile testing were performed to respectively measure values of compression parameters (including yield stress, yield load, elastic modulus, yield compressibility, compressibility within 2 MPa, and compression stress within 10% strain) and values of tensile parameters (including yield stress, yield load, elastic modulus, yield elongation, elongation within 2 MPa, tensile stress within 1% strain) for comparison.ResultsCompression testing: no obvious yield points were observed in the whole process in samples of group B, while obvious yield points were observed in samples of groups A and C. There was no significant difference between groups A and C with respect to yield stress and yield load (P>0.05); while the yield compressibility in group C was significantly lower than that in group A (P<0.05) and the elastic modulus in group C was significantly higher than that in group A (P<0.05). There was a significant difference with respect to compressibility within 2 MPa of materials among the 3 groups (P<0.05), the high, medium, and low values go to groups B, A, and C respectively. The compression stress within 10% strain in group C was significantly higher than that in groups A and B (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between that in groups A and B (P>0.05). Tensile testing: the materials in group B had extremely high tensile strength. The yield stress in groups A and B was significantly higher than that in group C (P<0.05), and the elastic modulus and tensile stress within 1% strain were significantly lower than those in group C (P<0.05); but no significant difference was found between those in groups A and B (P>0.05). There was no significant difference with respect to yield load among the 3 groups (P>0.05); but there was significant difference with respect to yield elongation among the 3 groups (P<0.05), and the high, medium, and low values go to groups B, A, and C respectively. The elongation within 2 MPa in group B was significantly higher than that in groups A and C (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between that in groups A and C (P>0.05).ConclusionCompared with the Medpor, the polyurethane elastic material is a more ideal artificial auricular scaffold material.