Fat Transfer for Compound Fracture Scar?

Fat transfer can effectively replace needed volume on the face, body, and along areas of scar tissue. The recipient site vascularity plays a large role in fat grafting and scar tissue has impaired vascularity. Fat grafting will be effective in this area but may require several sessions.

The scar deformity has two components: 1-The loss of volume from the area after orthopaedic procedures 2-Scar bands that form in the deep plane and tether the skin To properly correct the deformity, it may be necessary to release the tethering and then add the fat grafts. It may take more than one attempt to get good results. Knowing that one can add more fat later, will remove the impetus to put too much fat and risk ulcerations, etc

Fat transfers depend on the recipient site for vascularity and noursihment. Generally scars have a poor blood supply which makes them a relatively unfavorable area to accept a graft. An oversimplified analogy will make the point. If you transfer a plant (fat graft), placing it in the desert (poor blood supply) will likely lead to death of the plant (failure of graft take). Dead fat grafts can form scar tissue with possible cyst formation that may become secondarily infected or ulcerated... more