Availability of Reduction Mammoplasty for Neck Burn Scar Contracture in Women

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Severe scar contracture can easily occur after a burn injury in the neck region, resulting in a functional decline that affects daily living. Because a hard scar tissue in the neck widely extends into the anterior chest wall in patients with severe burns, excessive forces should be exerted to extend the neck. We found that the impact force by the weight of the breast sometimes intensifies contracture tendency and leads to the recurrence of the contracture in women. To date, medical reports have paid little attention to this. We performed reduction mammoplasty on 3 female patients with neck burn scar contractures before the release of neck scar. About 200 g of tissue were removed from each breast according to the McKissock technique. In 1 case, the skin was moved to the axilla as a skin flap to release the contracture. The remaining neck scar contracture was then reconstructed with a local flap or free flap. In all 3 patients, mammoplasty and neck reconstruction were performed without complications and with good results. No recurrence of contracture occurred. Reduction mammoplasty in advance reduced the level of neck scar contracture and allowed for a variety of reconstruction options, including local skin flaps, and was also effective in preventing postoperative recurrence.