title: Contralateral full-thickness retroangular flap for the reconstruction of midfacial through-and-through defects following skin cancer ablation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the use of the contralateral full-thickness retroangular island flap for reconstructing midfacial through-and-through defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Full-thickness retroangular flaps raised from the contralateral infraorbital region were used to reconstruct midfacial through-and-through defects in eight patients following the resection of skin cancers. The defects ranged in size from 4.5 × 5.5 cm to 6.0 × 8.0 cm (mean 5.78 × 6.06 cm). The skin and mucosa in the full-thickness flaps ranged in size from 3.0 × 9.0 cm to 4.0 × 12.0 cm (mean 3.50 × 10.25 cm) and from 2.0 × 2.0 cm to 2.5 × 3.0 cm (mean 2.19 × 2.69 cm), respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the flaps survived and no complications occurred. The patients were followed for an average of 9.0 months (range 6-13 months). The vascularity of the flaps was good and the colour and texture matches were excellent. Cosmetic and functional outcomes were satisfactory in all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The contralateral full-thickness retroangular island flap containing the angular vessels in the pedicle is technically simple to use and is a good alternative for the reconstruction of moderate to large midfacial through-and-through defects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, First Hospital of Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fu Hai
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Wei Liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Da Ming
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps