Aesthetic Reconstruction of Auricular Keloids with a Novel Hemi-keystone Flap

Abstract

Abstract: Surgical management of helical and retroauricular keloids has been rarely discussed. This study aims to introduce our successful reconstruction of helical and retroauricular keloids using a novel hemi-keystone flap. The current study is a retrospective review of patients with pathologically confirmed helical and retroauricular keloids. All keloid cases were completely excised. We covered the defect with a hemi-keystone flap followed by a single fraction of 10 Gy radiation therapy at postoperative day 0 or postoperative pressure therapy using magnets for four months. Treatment outcome was recorded as recurrence or nonrecurrence. A follow-up period of a minimum of 12 months was required in all patients. Of 45 keloids in 33 patients, none of the cases had a recurrence of their auricular keloids and the postoperative course was uneventful. We successfully reconstructed helical and retroauricular keloids using our modified hemi-keystone flaps without any keloid recurrence in one-year follow-ups. This is especially useful during the COVID-19 pandemic when facial mask wearing is mandatory. Level of Evidence IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.