Comparison of Supraclavicular Artery Flap and Skin Graft in Management of Neck Contractures

Abstract

Background: Burn cases are highly prevalent in developing countries like Pakistan. If not managed timely they can result in lifetime complications as well as morbidity. Aim: To compare the supraclavicular artery flap method with skin graft. Place and duration of study: Department of Plastic Surgery, Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital, Sialkot from 1st September 2015 to 31st August 2019. Methodology: In this comparative study forty four patients were enrolled and half were operated by supraclavicular artery flap method and other half by skin graft procedure. The patients were followed for their skin contour, colour matching and neck extension improvement and recurrent neck contracture after a year. Results: Mean age of the patients was 29.5 years with 75% as females. Only one patient had recurrent neck contracture from supraclavicular artery flap group while 81.8% of skin graft showed recurrent neck contracture Conclusion: Supraclavicular artery flap is a better management approach in post neck contracture burn patients. Key words: Supravlaciular artery flap, Skin graft, Neck contractures