Use of the contralateral retroangular island flap for reconstructing midfacial defects after skin cancer ablation.
BACKGROUND
The retroangular flap is usually used to reconstruct small ipsilateral facial defects. The purpose of this study was to explore the use of the contralateral retroangular island flap for reconstructing large midfacial defects.


METHODS
Retroangular flaps raised from the contralateral infraorbital region were used to reconstruct midfacial defects in 12 patients after the resection of skin cancers. The defect ranged in size from 3.0 × 3.0 to 5.0 × 7.0 cm, and the flap skin paddle ranged in size from 2.0 × 4.0 to 4.0 × 6.0 cm.


RESULTS
All of the flaps survived. Patients were followed up for an average of 8.5 months. The vascularity of the flaps was good, and the match in terms of color and texture was excellent. The cosmetic and functional outcomes were satisfactory in all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The contralateral retroangular flap is a good alternative for reconstructing moderate to large midfacial defects.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China. drchen@vip.163.com
Wei-Liang
WL
Chen
You-Yuan
YY
Wang
Da-Ming
DM
Zhang
Qiang
Q
Chai
Hui-Jing
HJ
Wang
Lei
L
Wang
D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply