The Fusion of Craniofacial Reconstruction and Microsurgery
October 2014
in “
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
”
TLDR Combining microsurgery with craniofacial reconstruction improves aesthetic results and reduces harm to the area where tissue is taken from.
The document from 2014 reviews the integration of craniofacial reconstruction and microsurgery, highlighting the advancements in achieving better aesthetic outcomes and reducing donor-site morbidity. It details the authors' preferred microsurgical techniques for reconstructing various craniofacial areas, emphasizing the use of specific flaps like the thoracodorsal artery-based flaps and lateral circumflex femoral artery-based flaps, among others. The paper notes that microsurgery has become safer and a standard in craniofacial reconstruction, with no single flap option being universally superior. Techniques for reconstructing the cheek, maxilla, mandible, lips, and tongue are discussed, with preferences for certain flaps based on defect characteristics. The authors conclude that microsurgery is crucial in craniofacial surgery and recommend that complex cases be managed at specialized centers.
