title: Central artery perforator propeller flap for nasal and medial canthal defects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common type of skin cancer of the nasal dorsum and the medial canthal region, which is caused by chronic sun exposure. Limited adjacent tissue and the need for aesthetically pleasing result make the reconstruction of these regions very challenging. To overcome this challenge, we designed a perforator propeller flap based on the central artery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2014 and November 2015, we covered the nasal or medial canthal defects of 22 patients with central artery perforator propeller flaps.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the patients was 60.4 years (range: 47-81 years). The median follow-up period was 7.5 months (range: 2-23 months). The pathological diagnoses were basal cell carcinoma for 14 patients and squamous cell carcinoma for the remaining eight patients. The size of the defects ranged from 2 × 2 to 3.5 × 4 cm, and that of the flaps ranged from 2 × 3.5 to 3.2 × 6 cm. We did not observe any major complications requiring surgery, such as total flap loss, hematoma, or dog-ear deformity. However, venous congestion was seen in five patients and partial flap necrosis (that healed without intervention) in two patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The central artery perforator propeller flap is a reliable and versatile flap for the reconstruction of the nasal dorsum and medial canthal region. Reconstruction with this flap is a single-stage procedure that can cover large defects without causing dog-ear deformity or eyebrow asymmetry compared with other local flap options.
authors.affiliation: Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Dept. of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: baltuyahya@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yahya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Baltu
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Dept. of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: shakanuzuns@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.affiliation: Ankara Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Dept. of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: drutkucan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Utku Can
authors.initials: UC
authors.lastname: Dölen
authors.affiliation: Bursa State Hospital, Dept. of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Bursa, Turkey. Electronic address: mustafaozyurtlu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Özyurtlu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000098:blood supply*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Central artery; Flap; Medial canthal; Nose; Perforator; Propeller