The Study of Skin Shrinkage in Pectoralis Major Myocutaneous Flap

Abstract

A study of skin shrinkage in pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in 10 patients who were harvested flap to close head and neck defects was conducted in Department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, Chonburi hospital during January 2019 to December 2019. Ten patients were 8 males and 4 females. The averages of shrinkage of flap from flap margin was 10.82 (±6.71) mm (17%) in vertical line and 17.47 (±8.38) mm (17.9%) in horizontal line.The averages of shrinkage of flap from using instrument to marked reference points was 9.96 (±4.34) mm (19.7%) in vertical line and 6.33 (±4.55) mm (13.8%) in horizontal line. According to flap design should be larger than the size of defects. Furthermore, regarding age and gender also are the factors that might effect to shrinkage of flap. Thus, the further research is necessary in the future.