Treatment of donor site wounds using facial skin remaining in the scar area.

Abstract

Reconstruction of cheek skin defects is surgically challenging. We evaluated the outcomes of using cheek skin remaining in the scar area for treating donor site wounds following the repair of cheek skin defects using full-thickness skin. We conducted a retrospective case series study that included 12 patients with a scar of the cheek. The patients included seven females and five males. The donor site was treated using the cheek skin remaining in the scar area following repair of the cheek skin defect with a full-thickness skin graft from the inner side of the upper arm. Minor flap necrosis of the full-thickness skin graft in the cheek developed in one patient. The postoperative esthetic results were excellent and satisfactory in 11 and 1 patient, respectively. Patients were followed up for 18-32 months; no lagophthalmos or ectropion was noted. However, there were two cases of hyperpigmentation in cheek grafts, and two of graft hypertrophy in the arm. The facial skin remaining in the scar area can be used to treat donor site wounds following a full-thickness skin graft from the inner side of the upper arm to repair a large cheek skin defect.