Use of neck advancement techniques for reconstruction of mild to moderate neck and lower face post-burn scars

Abstract EN

Objectives: To investigate our experience with “Neck Advancement” as a useful technique in late reconstruction of some neck and lower face post-burn scars in addition to evaluate the limitations and complications of this technique.

Methods: During the period between 1999-2006, a total of 110 “Neck Advancement” procedures were performed on 57 patients with mild to moderate neck and lower face scars at the Royal Jordanian Rehabilitation Center.

Forty one of these 57 patients had previous scar revisions or serial excisions ranging from 1-6 procedures per patient prior to the neck advancement.

The medical records, pre- and postoperative photographs of these patients were retrospectively studied in terms of age, gender, cause of burn, duration since the acute burn, previous attempts at reconstruction, indications for surgery, results, and postoperative complications.

Results: The range of neck advancements was 1-4 procedures per patient.

The overall post operative improvement was good in 45 (79%) patients, satisfactory in 9 (16%) patients, and poor in only 3 (5%) patients.

There were a total of 13 complications among our group of patients.

Apart from simple wound problems related to this technique, the main complication was facial or neck asymmetry, a pseudo-torticollis that tends to occur with unilateral advancements.

Conclusion: We found this technique useful in the late reconstruction of a large number of patients with mild to moderate facial and neck burns.

It is easy, quick, repeatable and convenient to the patient with a low frequency of complications.

It is an additional technique to the armamentarium of the reconstructive surgeon to deal with such difficult burns.

It has limitations and is not suitable for the more extensive neck burns.