Using the parietal branch of superficial temporal vessels: A good approach to total ear replantation

Abstract

Although ear reconstruction is a mature procedure, emergency microsurgical replantation has still been regarded as the optimal treatment for ear amputation due to its cost-effectiveness and aesthetically pleasing results. Successful microsurgical ear replantation is rare because of the difficulty in identifying suitable vessels for anastomosis. We describe two cases of total ear microsurgical replants using the parietal branch of the superficial temporal vessels (STV) as the recipient vessels. The STV parietal branch was dissected up to a sufficient length after thorough debridement, and the amputated ears were revascularized using end-to-end anastomosis. Our experience shows that the parietal branch of the STV is an ideal recipient vessel option for total ear replantation.

Keywords

• Microsurgical replantation
• Ear amputation
• Superficial temporal vessels