The prefabricated superficial temporal fascia flap in noma surgery

Abstract

In a series of 15 patients with facial deformity due to noma, the authors report their experience with a prefabricated superficial temporal fascia (PTF) flap performed in an African hospital. The operative method has been simplified as compared with methods described by others. In the first stage, the temporal fascia is skin grafted and the wound is closed over the graft. After only 1 week, this prefabricated flap is harvested. One of 15 flaps was discarded because of damage to the vascular pedicle. Later this situation was prevented by including a rim of deep temporal fascia in the flap. All other 14 flaps, including four osteocutaneous flaps and one flap with double sided skin grafts, survived and healed without major complications at both the recipient and the donor site. The prefabricated temporal fascia flap is a pliable and well vascularized flap with a reasonably long vascular pedicle, which can be used successfully, even under suboptimal conditions.