[Repair of the preauricular defects by the superficial temporal artery frontal branch flap and the retrograde retroauricular artery flap].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of the superficial temporal artery frontal branch flap combine with the retrograde retroauricular artery flap in repairing the preauricular defects.

Methods: The superficial temporal artery frontal branch flap with hair is designed for sideburns reconstruction, and the hairless retrograde retroauricular artery flap for repair the hairless area which is between the tragus and the temples.The donor sites were closed directly.

Results: From September 2012 to September 2015,9 cases were treated. All flaps survived completely.Surgical incisions and wounds at donor sites and recipient sites healed primarily. All cases were followed up for 6-18 months (10 months on average) and cosmetic results were satisfactory without visible scar.

Conclusions: The method of the superficial temporal artery fiontal branch flap combined with the retrograde retroauricular artery flap for the repair of preauricular a large skin defect is simple with less and inconspicious auxiliary incision. The sidebums and hairless area can be simultaneously reconstructed with satisfactory appearance.