[Application of the free parascapular flap in children].

OBJECTIVE

To improve surgical results we have applied the free parascapular flap in children for facial or cervical burn scar contracture.

METHOD: Eight children aged from 6 to 9 years received free flap transfer. Based on the defect and the distribution of the cutaneous branches of the circumflex scapular vessels, the flap was designed with its size ranging from 15 cm x 8 cm to 22 cm x 6.5 cm.

RESULT: Free flap transferring with microvascular anastomosis was successful in all cases. The average operation time was 5 hours with average blood loss being about 100 ml.

CONCLUSION

Free flap transplantation is safe and beneficial in children when the technique and skill of microsurgery and plastic and reconstructive surgery are mastered and intraoperative blood loss is controlled under 1% of the total blood volume. The vertically oriented parascapular flap can not only provide proper tissue for reconstraction but also minimise the donor site morbidity.