The free 'V': a bipennate free flap for double eyelid resurfacing based on the second dorsal metacarpal artery.
We present a patient who had a basal cell carcinoma of the left upper eyelid and ectropion of the left lower eyelid. The patient underwent resection of the tumour and release of the ectropion resulting in a full thickness defect of the skin of his left upper and lower eyelids. The eyelids were reconstructed with a second dorsal metacarpal artery free flap from the left hand. For safety, a dorsal vein of the flap was arterialised and one of the valves of the vein had a valvotomy. The flap survived completely.
Yap
L H
LH
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mater Misericordiae, Dublin, Ireland.
Earley
M J
MJ
D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D004483:Ectropion / Q000601:surgery*; D005142:Eyelid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000601:surgery*; D006225:Hand / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply / Q000379:methods*