Supraclavicular Artery Flap versus Skin Graft: Which Is a Better Reconstructive Tool for Managing Post-Burn Contractures in the Neck

BACKGROUND: Burn in developing countries still has high burden of inadequately managed severe burns. This study compared supraclavicular artery flap and skin graft in managing neck post-burn contractures. METHODS: In National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine and Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan, 30 patients with neck post-burn contractures were enrolled. Half of patients randomly underwent supraclavicular artery flap and half received skin graft. The outcome measures including initial improvement in neck extension, patient’s satisfaction with color-texture-match and recurrent contracture formation rate were assessed. RESULTS: Among patients, 80% were female and 20% were male. Preoperatively, each group had post-burn contractures of grade II among 26.66% of patients, grade III among 60% and grade III among 13.3%. Postoperatively after three months in the two groups, 86.66% improved to grade I and 13.3% improved to grade II. Patient’s satisfaction with color-texture was 84.66% in supraclavicular artery flap group, whereas it was 42.66% for skin graft group. Complications were hypertrophic scar at donor site (13%) and flap tip necrosis (6.66%) in supraclavicular artery flap group. In skin graft group, partial skin graft loss was noticed among 33% of patients and delayed healing of donor site among 20%. The recurrent contracture formation rate at one year was 73.33% in skin graft group, whereas there was no case of recurrent contracture in supraclavicular artery flap group. CONCLUSION: Supraclavicular artery flap was superior to skin graft in managing post-burn neck contractures. It provided better color-texture match and was associated with no recurrence of contracture formation.