title: Reconstruction of small- and medium-sized defects of the lower lip.
abstract: Defects of up to one third of the lower lip can usually be closed primarily, using one of the excision shapes described above. Defects of 30% to 50% of the lower lip can be closed with a stair-step or lip-switch flap. In most circumstances, stair-step reconstruction attains good function more quickly than the lip switch flap and has a better aesthetic result. Defects of 50% to 75% of the lower lip can be closed with a fan flap or a Karapandzic flap; the Karapandzic flap generally provides a better functional result. Both of these flaps cause rounding of the corner of the mouth that compromise the aesthetic result.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Calhoun
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008048:Lip Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods