[Nasal reconstruction with the modified expanded forehead skin flap].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of the modified expanded forehead skin flap in nasal reconstruction.


METHODS
According to flap design, the frontal arteries that were not selected as the pedicle were ligated in order to enhance expansion and delay effects. Besides the middle forehead skin flap for nasal reconstruction, the expanded transversal forehead flap was employed with its donor site sutured directly, resulting in inconspicuous scar. This method was used for 11 cases of nasal reconstruction.


RESULTS
All the flaps survived. Postoperative follow up for 6 months to 8 years and 4 months showed satisfactory results with good appearance and function.


CONCLUSIONS
The method of modulating the blood supply to the flap and selecting the upper area of the forehead for the flap is an effective modification for nasal reconstruction.
Li
Xiao-jing
XJ
Department of Plastic Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.
Ning
Ji-long
JL
Gao
Xue-hong
XH
Zhang
Lin
L
Zhu
Fei
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005546:Forehead / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D015626:Tissue Expansion; D055815:Young Adult