MENTOSTERNAL CONTRACTURES

Mentosternal contractures still represent a surgical challenge due to their exposed location. They require early operative treatment for bot h functional as well as aesthetic reasons. Careful clinical examinatio n of scar location and traction forces both in the resting and functio nal, moving state including proper evaluation of the surrounding soft tissue is mandatory for exact preoperative planning of the reconstruct ive surgical procedure required. In general, the technically most feas ible operation is favoured, if functional and aesthetic results are go od and the postoperative risk of recurrent mentosternal contractures i s low. Between 1987 and 1994, 21 patients with cervical, mentosternal and mentothoracic contractures underwent operative procedures at our c linic. Eight patients underwent a surgical reconstruction with local f laps and 13 patients received a free microvascularized flap.