Management for Raw Surface of Forehead Flap Using Artificial Collagen Membrane.

Kim, Da Arm; Oh, Sang Ha; Seo, Young Joon; Yang, Ho Jik; Jung, Sung Won

doi:2012.13.1.46

Arch Craniofac Surg > Volume 13(1); 2012 > Article

Case Report

Archives of Craniofacial Surgery 2012;13(1):46-49.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7181/acfs.2012.13.1.46

Management for Raw Surface of Forehead Flap Using Artificial Collagen Membrane.

Da Arm Kim, Sang Ha Oh, Young Joon Seo, Ho Jik Yang, Sung Won Jung

¹Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea. djplastic@cnu.ac.kr
²Research Institute for Medical Sciences, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
³Department of Dermatology, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
⁴Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Eulji University College of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
⁵Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
The forehead flap is the workhorse in nasal reconstruction, which provides a similar skin color, texture, structure, and reliability. There are some disadvantages, including donor site morbidities, 2- or 3-stage operations, and postoperative management after initial flap transfer. Furthermore, there has been little attention to the exposed raw surface wound, after the first stage of an operation. This article describes the authors??modification to overcome this problem, using artificial collagen membrane. METHODS: An Artificial collagen membrane is composed of an outer silicone membrane and an inner collagen layer. After a forehead flap elevation, the expected raw surface was covered by an artificial collagen membrane with 5-0 nylon suture. A simple dressing, which had been applied to the site, was changed every 2 or 3 days in an outpatient unit. At 3 weeks postprocedure, a second stage operation was performed.
RESULTS
With biosynthetic protection of the raw surface, there were no wound problems, such as infection or flap loss. Thus, the patient was satisfied due to an effortless management of the wound and a reduction in pain.
CONCLUSION
The application of an artificial collagen membrane to the raw under-surface of the flap could be a comfortable and a protective choice for this procedure.

Keywords: Acquired nose deformities; Forehead; Surgical flap; Artificial membranes