Eye socket reconstruction with free radial forearm flap.
Deformity of the orbital region and contraction of the eye socket were encountered in 3 patients who in their infancy underwent exenteration of the orbit and postoperative irradiation for the treatment of retinoblastoma. These major problems were attributed to the less-vascularized cicatricial conjunctiva left in place. To solve these disadvantages, a microvascular technique using a free radial forearm flap was adopted. A large permanent eye socket was achieved and depression deformity of the orbital region was corrected in a one-stage operation. This is, to our knowledge, the first report on the use of a free vascularized skin flap for "malignant contracture" of an anophthalmic eye socket. The excellent cosmetic results of this method are demonstrated.
Department of Otolaryngology, Kobe University, School of Medicine, Japan.
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Tahara
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Susuki
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003286:Contracture / Q000601:surgery; D015353:Eye Enucleation; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005137:Eye, Artificial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D009915:Orbit / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps