Endoscopic harvest of temporoparietal fascial free flaps for coverage of hand wounds.

Abstract

The temporoparietal fascial (TPF) flap is a thin, pliable, and well-vascularized flap that is ideal for reconstructing hand defects. Conventionally harvested flaps, however, result in a large scar over the temporal fossa, which may be problematic in patients with male-pattern baldness. We describe an endoscopic technique for harvesting the TPF flap through a 4-cm preauricular incision to reduce donor site morbidity. Five TPF flaps were used to cover hand wounds. Three of the flaps were successful and there were no injuries to the frontal branch of the facial nerve in this series. Endoscopic harvest of the TPF flap is an ideal solution for covering medium-sized hand defects without potentially prominent scars in the temporal area.