Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of the dermal pedicled nasolabial flap with subdermal vascular network for repairing nasolabial skin defects. Methods Between July 2008 and July 2011, 43 cases of nasolabial defects wererepaired with dermal pedicled nasolabial flap with subdermal vascular network. There were 22 males and 21 females with a median age of 36 years (range, 6-68 years). All defects were caused by excision of lesions, including pigmented nevus in 23 cases, scar in 16 cases, and inflammatory granuloma in 4 cases. The disease duration was 3 months to 35 years. Lesions were located at the tip of the nose in 11 cases, at the alae of the nose in 10 cases, at the alae and tip of the nose in 10 cases, at the alar groove of the nose in 8 cases, and at upper l ip in 4 cases. The defect size ranged from 0.7 cm × 0.5 cm to 1.2 cm × 1.0 cm. The flap size ranged from 1.0 cm × 0.7 cm to 1.5 cm × 1.2 cm. Results All flaps survived and incisions at donors and wound healed by first intention. After operation, 34 patients were followed up 6-12 months (mean, 10 months). The texture and color of the flap were similar to adjacent skin. No obvious scar was observed at donor sites. Conclusion The dermal pedicled nasolabial flap with subdermal vascular network has the advantages of flexible flap transplantation, small damage to donor site, and low incidence of bloated subcutaneous tunnel.
Objective To evaluate the curative effect of the lateral nasal artery pedicled nasolabial flap for reconstruction of nasal defects. Methods From August 2005 to March 2009, 12 cases of large nasal tip and alar defects were repaired with the lateral nasal artery pedicled nasolabial flap. There were 5 male patients and 7 female patients with a mean ageof 48.6 years (range, 35-60 years). Five cases of nasal defects were caused by trauma and other defects were caused by excision of carcinoma or hemangioma; the courses of disease were 1 to 10 years and 3 months to 40 years, respectively. The nasal defect size ranged from 2.0 cm × 1.5 cm to 4.5 cm × 2.5 cm. All defects were reconstructed with lateral nasal artery pedicled nasolabial flap in 9 cases and with island flap in 3 cases. The flap size ranged from 2.5 cm × 2.0 cm to 7.0 cm × 3.0 cm. Five patients required cartilage grafts for alar rim support and the distal end of the nasolabial flap was thinned and folded to repair the nasal l ining. The donor sites were sutured directly. Results The mild venous stasis at the distal end of three island flaps occurred at 5-24 hours postoperatively and alleviated spontaneously. All flaps survived. Incision at donor and accepted sites healed by first intention. Flap revision was performed in 5 cases after 6-15 months because of mild swell ing at the pedicles of skin flaps. All patients were followed up 8-24 months, with an average of 13 months. All patients achieved satisfactory results in nasal appearance, flap texture and color, and ventilatory function. No obvious scar was found at donor sites. Conclusion The nasolabial flap is an excellent choice for reconstruction of defects of nasal tip and ala.
In order to repair the intraoral defects after extensive resection of oral carcinoma with radical neck lymph nodes dissection, the nasolabial myocutaneous flap was prepared with its pedicle which only contained the facial artery and anterior facial vein. After removal of the tumor, the flap was used to cover the intraoral defect. Altogether 15 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma were treated by this method. Seven out of 15 cases had their cervical lymph nodes involved. The tumor in all cases were located in one anatomical region, without involvement of accessory nerve or metastasis. All the flaps survived after the operation. There was no recurrence of tumor in any case after being followed up from 0.5-2 years. Removal of tumor and repaire of the defect by pedided naso-labial myocutaneous flap could be done in one stage. The detail of the process was introduced. Its feasibility and application were discussed. It was suggested that preserving the facial vessels be a kind of modified method of radical neck lymph nodes dissection, and the nasolabial myocutaneous flap have some clinical value in repair of the defect after radical operation of oral carcinoma.
ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of the extended nasolabial flap in repairing small or medium anterior buccal mucosal defects. MethodsBetween March 2013 and April 2014, 10 patients with anterior buccal mucosal defects were treated with extended nasolabial flaps. There were 8 males and 2 females with the average age of 47.2 years (range, 39-62 years). The left side was involved in 4 cases and the right side in 6 cases. The pathological types included 3 cases of oral leukoplakia (OLK), 3 cases of OLK with malignant changes, 1 case of malignant oral lichen planus, and 3 cases of papilloma. The clinical course ranged from 2 to 15 months (mean, 7.1 months). The resection was restricted to the mucosa and little buccinators without cheek penetration, and the defects ranged from 2.5 to 4.0 cm in width and 3.5 to 5.5 cm in length. The distance between defect and the corner of the mouth was 0.5 to 1.5 cm. A falcate flap was designed along the nasolabial fold with a pedicle lateral beside the corner of the mouth. The flap was lifted in the plane of the superficial muscular aponeurotic system from both terminal points to the region of the central pedicle. Then the flap was transposed intraorally through a transbuccal tunnel to cover the mucosal defect while the extra-oral incision was closed directly. ResultsAll flaps completely survived and all wounds healed primarily. All patients were followed up 6 to 18 months (mean, 10.4 months). All patients regained symmetrical appearances and normal mouth commissure only with linear scars hidden in the nasolabial folds. The mouth opening was 2.7 to 3.5 cm (mean, 3.1 cm) at last follow-up. The intraoral flaps healed perfectly with thin and flat outlooks. No cheek biting or fish-mouth deformity was observed. ConclusionThe extended nasolabial flap can be used to repair small or medium anterior buccal mucosal defects because it has the advantages of reliable blood supply, flexibility in design, simplicity in harvesting, and hidden donor site scars.
Objective To investigate the effectiveness of nasolabial flap and ear cartilage in repairing defects after nasal ala basal cell carcinoma resection. Methods Between January 2012 and August 2014, 8 patients with nasal ala basal cell carcinoma underwent tumor resection and defect repair with nasolabial flap and ear cartilage. Among the 8 patients, 5 were male and 3 were female, with an average age of 65 years (range, 45-76 years). The left side and right side were involved in 3 cases and 5 cases respectively. Carcinoma confirmed by pathological examination in all patients. The time between first biopsy and resection was 7-14 days (mean, 10 days). The defect ranged from 1.5 cm×1.5 cm to 2.0 cm×1.5 cm after tumor resection, and the size of nasolabial flaps ranged from 4.0 cm×1.5 cm to 5.0 cm×2.0 cm. The operations of cutting off the pedicle and thinning skin flap were performed at 6 months after first operation. Results All flaps survived. Incisions healed by first intention, and no related complication occurred. No carcinoma recurred after cutting off the pedicle. All patients were followed up for 6 months. All patients were satisfied with the nasal contour, symmetrical projection of the alar dome, and no obvious scar. Conclusion Nasolabial flap transfer and ear cartilage transplant method not only can repair the nasal ala defects, but also can avoid obvious scar and obtain good nasal ala contour profile. The shortcoming is that patients have to receive two operations.
Objective To investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of bilateral facial perforator artery flap in repairing large area defect in middle and lower part of nose. Methods The clinical data of 18 patients with large area defect in middle and lower part of nose repaired by bilateral facial perforator artery flap between January 2019 and December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, there were 13 males and 5 females, the age ranged from 43 to 81 years, with an average of 63 years. There were 3 cases of nasal trauma, 4 cases of basal cell carcinoma, 8 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, 1 case of lymphoma, and 2 cases of large area solar keratosis. The size of the defect ranged from 3.0 cm×3.0 cm to 4.5 cm×4.0 cm; the size of unilateral flap ranged from 3.0 cm×1.3 cm to 3.5 cm×2.0 cm, and the size of bilateral flaps ranged from 3.3 cm×2.6 cm to 4.5 cm×4.0 cm. ResultsOne patient developed skin flap necrosis after operation, and a frontal skin flap was used to repair the wound; 1 case gradually improved after removing some sutures due to venous congestion in the skin flap, and the wound healing was delayed after dressing change; the remaining 16 cases of bilateral facial perforator artery flaps survived well and all wounds healed by first intention, without any “cat ear” malformation. All 18 patients had first intention healing in the donor area, leaving linear scars without obvious scar hyperplasia, and no facial organ displacement. All patients were followed up 3-12 months, with an average of 6 months. Due to the appropriate thickness of the flap, none of the 18 patients underwent secondary flap thinning surgery. All flaps had good blood circulation, similar texture and color to surrounding tissues, symmetrical bilateral nasolabial sulcus, and high patient satisfaction.ConclusionThe bilateral facial perforator artery flaps for repairing large area defect in middle and lower part of nose can achieve good appearance and function, and the operation is relatively simple, with high patient satisfaction.