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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Plast Surg 2023; 56(06): 535-539
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1776008
Case Report

Management of Post–Electric Burn Microstomia by Free Radial Artery Forearm Flap in a 1-Year-Old Child

Authors

  • Raj Kumar Manas

    1   Department of Plastic, Reconstructive & Burns Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

  • Sujoy Kumar Chatterji

    1   Department of Plastic, Reconstructive & Burns Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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Abstract

Management of post–electric burn microstomia is a challenging task, especially in children, as it causes difficulty in feeding and airway problems (secondary to nasal airway blockage). The recreated defect is often full thickness and requires full-thickness tissue for reconstruction. The free flap can provide adequate normal tissue for the restoration of functions and aesthesis of the perioral region. However, performing free flaps in children is equally demanding due to small-diameter vessel anastomosis and postoperative monitoring. We present a case of postburn microstomia that was managed by contracture release and reconstruction by free radial artery forearm flap in a 1-year-old child. Postoperatively, at 6 months of follow-up, the flap settled well and the child was able to open his mouth fully with good aesthetic outcome. The free flap can be considered a good and safe option for perioral contracture release and reconstruction for better functional and aesthetic outcomes.

Keywords

postburn microstomia - free flap in children - post–electric burn perioral contracture

Note

The manuscript, figures, tables, and data are not published previously and are not under consideration for publication elsewhere. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants (parents) included in the study for publishing their cases and photographs.

This paper has not been presented in any conferences or meetings.


Author Contribution

R.K.M. was responsible for conception of the work, acquisition and analysis of data, and drafting of the manuscript. S.C. was responsible for acquisition and analysis of data and drafting and editing manuscript.




Publication History

Article published online:
16 October 2023

© 2023. Association of Plastic Surgeons of India. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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