The Postauricular (Revolving Door) Island Pedicle Flap Revisited

Abstract

The postauricular (revolving door) island pedicle flap is a good closure option for large anterior auricular defects lacking perichondrium and not easily repaired by other methods.

The Revolving Door Flap: Revisiting an Elegant but Forgotten Flap for Ear Defect Reconstruction

“…However, its modification and extended utility for scapha, helix and antihelix, external auditory meatus, 3,11 and larger auricular defect has been described earlier by Talmi, 7 Rodendo, and Jackson. [12][13][14][15] Although, primary closure, secondary healing, skin grafting, and other local flaps are options for resurfacing an anterior auricular defect, they are suboptimal for covering exposed cartilage or composite defects involving anterior skin and cartilage. 5,6,16 The RD flap provides a pliable cover to bare cartilage and helps resurface complex auricular defects maintaining its three-dimensional form and morphology along with primary closure of donor site and a well-hidden scar.…”

Ear Reconstruction Utilizing the Subcutaneous Island Pedicle Graft (Flip-Flop) Flap

“…The subcutaneous island pedicle graft (flip-flop) flap offers a simple, one-stage method for repairing anterior ear defects involving the concha, antitragus, antihelix, and EAM. [3][4][5] The rich vascular supply from branches of the superficial temporal artery and posterior auricular artery minimize flap necrosis as long as a central pedicle is maintained. 6 Aggressively thinning the circumferential margins of the flap without vascular com-promise may be performed for contour.…”

Pull-Through Subcutaneous Pedicle Flap for an Anterior Auricular Defect

“…We propose that a postauricular scalp–to–anterior auricle pull‐through subcutaneous pedicle flap should be considered for this defect of the scaphoid fossa and antihelix. Masson 4 first described this flap, which has been called the “revolving door” flap 5,6 and the “flip‐flop” flap, 7 in the plastic surgery literature in 1972 to describe the general movement of the pedicled flap. It is a versatile reconstructive option that has been applied to defects of the scaphoid fossa, antihelix, and conchal bowl.…”