Geometrical design of bilobed flap for nasal reconstruction(5 cases)

ABSTRACT

The nose has number of characteristics that make it unique when planning or reconstruction of surgical defects. The topography of nose is complex with multiple adjacent convex and concave surfaces that must be preserved. The free margins of the alar rims are mobile and easily distorted in case of inadequate planning. The skin over the lower one third of the nose id liss mobile and, therefore, cannot be easily recruited for closure of small defects. In addition, the texture and color of this skin are so unique that neither distant nor nearby skin can always provide a good match. Finally, the function of the nose must always be considered by preserving or replacing the bony and cartilaginous framework, mucosal linig, and never compromising a patent airway. The bilobed flap is particularly suited for reconstruction of small sized or medium sized nasal defects up to 1.5 cm in diameter. By definition, it is a double transposition flap and it is designed to move more skin over a longer distance than would be possible with a single transposition flap in the same location. On the lower one third of the nose where the skin is the least mobile, the bilobed flap allows the surgical site to be covered with nearby skin matched for color and texture and then allows for repair of that secondary defect with another well-matched flap whose donor site can finally be closed primarily. This flap also results in little or no distortion of the nose since the flap efficiently recruits skin from distant and more lax sites. While the standard design often results in tissue protrusions or pincushioning effect, improvements in the design are outlined herein to achieve the best results for defects of the nose.