Repair of upper lip defects with an island flap based on the inferior labial arterial arch / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate one-stage repairing upper lip defects with an island flap based on the inferior labial arterial arch.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>An island flap pedicled with the inferior labial arterial arch was used to repair upper lip defects. The size of the wedge-shaped flap ranged from 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm to 1.5 cm x 2.0 cm. Since 1993, fifteen patients with upper lip defects have been treated with this method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the flaps survived with satisfactory function and appearance.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The island flap of the inferior labial arterial arch is effective and applicable in repairing severe secondary deformities of congenital bilateral cleft lips.</p>