Finesse in Damage Control Reconstruction for Trauma in Plastic Surgery

Abstract

Reconstructions of body, extremity and facial resurfacing facial defects are common encounters in plastic surgery. It may be owing to trauma, burn injury, tumor, congenital anomalies, miscellaneous kinds of malignancies. The face has its specific landmarks: the forehead, eyebrows, eyes with upper and lower eyelids, orbit, midface (nose, maxilla, zygoma), upper lip, cheeks, nasolabial folds, lower face (lower lip, mandible with angle), oral mucosa (buccal mucosa, upper lip sulcus, lower lip sulcus), mentum, and neck. Anatomical landmarks include forehead, eyebrow, and eyelids: upper/lower, orbit, midface: nose, maxilla, upper lip, nasolabial folds, and zygoma. Lower face: lower lip, mandible, oral mucosa, buccal mucosa, upper lip sulcus, lower lip sulcus. Strategic approaches include the following: tissue expansion, resection of tumor, and repair with resurfacing, repair of multilayer defect repair for functional purpose. Reconstruction for trauma is commonly encountered in the daily practice in plastic surgery. The trauma may be caused by miscellaneous causes, including traffic accident, fall, cutting, avulsion, contusion, electrical injuries, irradiation injuries, chemical injuries, etc., resulting in disfigurement, deformity and functional disabilities. The strategic approach is to achieve anatomical restoration, functional rehabilitation and aesthetic refinements for the afflicted individuals. Pursuing excellence in plastic surgery, bringing excellence to life is always the ultimate goal for plastic surgeons.