title: Levator anguli oris muscle based flaps for nasal reconstruction following resection of nasal skin tumours.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  surgical excision remains the best tool for management of skin tumors affecting nasal skin, however many surgical techniques have been used for reconstruction of the nasal defects caused by excisional surgery. The aim of this work is the evaluation of the feasibility and outcome of levator anguli oris muscle based flaps.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety patients of malignant nasal skin tumours were included in this study. Age was ranged from four to 78 years. For small unilateral defects affecting only one side ala nasi, levator anguli oris myocautaneous (LAOMC) flap was used in 45 patients. For unilateral compound loss of skin and mucus membrane, levator anguli oris myocautaneous mucosal (LAOMCM) flap was used in 23 patients. Very large defects; bilateral either LAOMC or LAOMCM flaps combined with forehead glabellar flaps were used to reconstruct the defect in 22 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wound dehiscence was the commonest complication. Minor complications, in the form of haematoma and minor flap loss were managed conservatively. Partial flap loss was encountered in 6 patients with relatively larger tumours or diabetic co-morbidity, three of whom were required operative re-intervention in the form of debridement and flap refashioning, while total flap loss was not occurred at all.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immediate nasal reconstruction for nasal skin and mucosal tumours with levator anguli oris muscle based flaps (LAOMC, LAOMCM) is feasible and spares the patient the psychic trauma due to organ loss.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Oncology Department, Oncology Center, Mansoura University, Egypt. adeldenewer@mans.edu.eg
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Denewer
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Farouk
authors.forename: Tamer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fady
authors.forename: Fayez
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shahatto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery; D009666:Nose / Q000601:surgery*; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011379:Prognosis; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D055815:Young Adult