ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the experience to reconstruct large nasal defects with combined local flaps after cutaneous tumor excision based on the aesthetic subunit principle.Methods:From May 2007 to May 2019, based on the nasal aesthetic subunit principle, combined local flaps were used to cover the large nasal defects in 21 cases of nasal tumors that were removed. Among 21 cases, there were 11 cases of basal cell carcinoma, 7 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, and 3 cases of pigmented naevus. The locations were dorsum of nose in 8 cases, nasal side in 7 cases, nasal ala in 5 cases, nasal tip in 1 case, and across two nasal subunits in 17 cases. The area of the defect ranged between 1.3 cm × 0.9 cm and 3.6 cm × 3.1 cm. A local combined skin flap was used to repair the skin defect. The secondary defect of donor site was directly sutured.Results:Among 21 cases, 20 cases acquired complete recovery; 1 case had epiderm necrosis over the far end of the flap achieved healing by the first intention. The nasal defect was successfully repaired in all patients, and the all flaps survived. A total of 21 patients were available for follow-up of 1 to 48 months, no tumor recurrence occurred, and the repaired tissues were well matched to the surrounding tissue, good nasal contour was obtained, and the cosmetic results were satisfactory.Conclusions:Based on the nasal aesthetic subunit principle, the combined local flaps can be used to reconstruct the large nasal defects, and the cosmetic results are satisfactory.