• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.214-219
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• 1995

Free grafting of oral mucosa for minor oral reconstruction was first described by Propper in ridge extension surgery. Situation calling for mucosal grafting procedures may relate to periodontal surgery, minor and major preprosthetic surgery, implant surgery, reconstruction in deformity cases after trauma, congenital cleft, gross atrophy and ablative tumor surgery. In the cases of 9 patients with mucosal defect of intraoral or orbital cavity after wide excision of tumor, preprosthetic surgery, and orbitoplasty, full-thickness mucosal graft were used to close a large defect. Four patients received buccal mucosal graft for preprosthetic surgery or orbitoplasty, one patient had benign tumor and the others had malignant tumors located on the palate or upper alveolus. Buccal mucosal graft donor site morbidity and trismus were minimal and healing of surgical defect was satisfactory. So we present the case with review of literatures.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.222-226
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• 2018

A 70-year-old male with a history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and coronary stent insertion visited our hospital 7 days after biting his lower lip. Swelling and inflammation had worsened despite debridement and antibiotic treatment. On the 8th hospital day, fungal infection with Candida albicans and superimposed bacterial infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae were found on tissue culture. Extensive necrosis resulted in a defect of approximately 3/4 of the entire lower lip and a full-layer skin defect from the vermilion to the gingivobuccal sulcus at the right corner of the mouth. To correct drooling, incomplete lip sealing, and trismus, staged reconstruction was performed with consideration of cosmetic and functional features. The treatment process using staged reconstruction and antifungal treatment for an extensive lower lip defect caused by fungal stomatitis is described.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.232-238
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• 2021

Background: Galeal or temporalis muscle flaps have been traditionally used to reconstruct skull base defects after tumor removal. Unfortunately, these flaps do not provide sufficient vascularized tissue for a dural seal in extensive defects. This study describes the successful coverage of large skull base defects using anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flaps. Methods: This retrospective study included five patients who underwent skull base surgery between June 2018 and June 2021. Reconstruction was performed using an ALT free flap to cover defects that included the intracranial space and extended to the frontal sinus and cribriform plate. Results: There were no major complications, such as ascending infections or cerebrospinal leakage. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging showed that the flaps were well-maintained in all patients. Conclusion: Successful reconstruction was performed using ALT free flaps for large anterior skull base defects. In conclusion, the ALT free flap is an effective option for preventing communication between the nasal cavity and the intracranial space.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2021

Background: The free flap surgical method is useful for the reconstruction of head and neck defects. This study retrospectively analyzed the results of head and neck reconstructions using various types of free flaps over the past 30 years. Methods: Between 1989 and 2018, a total of 866 free flap procedures were performed on 859 patients with head and neck defects, including 7 double free flaps. The causes of vascular crisis and salvage rate were analyzed, and the total flap survival rate calculated among these patients. Additionally, the survival and complication rates for each flap type were compared. Results: The 866 cases included 557 radial forearm flaps, 200 anterolateral thigh flaps, 39 fibular osteocutaneous flaps, and 70 of various other flaps. The incidence of the vascular crisis was 5.1%; its most common cause was venous thrombosis (52.3%). Salvage surgery was successful in 52.3% of patients, and the total flap survival rate was 97.6%. The success rate of the radial forearm flap was higher than of the anterolateral flap (p< 0.01), and the primary sites of malignancy were the tongue, tonsils, and hypopharynx, respectively. Conclusion: The free flap technique is the most reliable method for head and neck reconstruction; however, the radial forearm free flap showed the highest success rate (98.9%). In patients with malignancy, flap failure was more common in the anterolateral thigh (5.5%) and fibular (5.1%) flaps.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.341-344
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• 2021

Reconstruction of submental defects is a challenge that needs to be approached carefully, since many important anatomical structures are located in this small space. Both aesthetic and functional outcomes should be considered during reconstruction. In this report, we describe a case where a superficial branch of the transverse cervical artery (STCA) perforator propeller flap was applied for coverage of the submental area. An 85-year-old woman presented with a 3-cm ovoid mass on her submental area. We covered the large submental defect with a STCA rotational flap in a 180° propeller pattern. The flap survived well without any complications at 1 year of followup. A STCA propeller flap is a useful surgical option in reconstruction for defect coverage of the submental area.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.139-151
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• 2022

Reconstructive surgery in the management of head and neck cancer has evolved to include structure-specific approaches in which organ-specific treatment algorithms help optimize outcomes. Tongue cancer management and reconstruction are surgical challenges for which well-executed reconstructive plans should be completed promptly to avoid delaying any subsequently planned oncologic treatment. Crucial considerations in tongue cancer resection are the significant functional morbidity associated with surgical defects, particularly in terms of speech and swallowing, and the consequent negative impact on patients' quality of life. With the evolution of microsurgical techniques and the development of the perforator flap concept, flap options can be tailored to the characteristics of various tongue defects. This has allowed the implementation of pliable flaps that can help restore tongue mobility and yield subsequent functional outcomes. Using an evolutional framework, we present this series of reviews related to tongue reconstruction. The first part of the review summarizes flap options and flap-related factors, such as volume and tissue characteristics. Related functional aspects are also presented, including tongue mobility, speech, and swallowing, as well as ways to evaluate and optimize these outcomes.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.145-149
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• 2024

The superficial temporal artery (STA) bifurcates into frontal and parietal branches. The parietal branch is used as a recipient vessel for scalp reconstruction, but it is absent in approximately 16.3% of individuals. In this case, a 72-year-old woman with an occipital scalp defect lacked both the parietal branch of the STA and the superficial temporal vein. To address this anatomic variation, we used the frontal branch of the STA and the posterior auricular vein as alternative recipient vessels for anterolateral thigh free flap reconstruction. The surgical procedure involved end-to-end microvascular anastomosis of one artery and one vein. Partial flap necrosis occurred postoperatively, but eventually resolved with debridement. The frontal branch of the STA and the posterior auricular vein can serve as reliable alternatives in the absence of the parietal branch. Reconstructive surgeons should be aware of anatomic variations of the STA and adapt their surgical approach accordingly.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.243-248
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• 2017

Background: To evaluate the versatility and reach of modified nasolabial flap used in reconstruction of defects created in and around the oral cavity. Methods: A total number of 20 cases were selected. Out of which 13 were males and 7 females. The age of these patients ranged from 24-63 years. 29 modified nasolabial flaps were raised in twenty patients. Based on clinical and histopathological examination, out of 20 patients, 14 patients were diagnosed with oral submucous fibrosis, 3 with verrucous carcinoma, 1 with squamous papilloma, 1 with oro-antral fistula and 1 with traumatic loss of lower lip. Results: Minimum preoperative interincisal distance (IID) was 0 mm and maximum was 15 mm with mean of $6.00{\pm}4.76mm$ in patients with oral submucous fibrosis and 12 months postoperatively minimum IID was 16 mm and maximum was 41 mm with mean of $28.00{\pm}8.96mm$. In one case, dehiscence (3.4%) was noted on the anterior tip for which tip revision was done. Bulky appearance of the flap intraorally was observed in 2 cases (6.9%). Five (17.2%) among the 29 flaps had visible scar at the donor site postoperatively up to 3 months. Conclusion: Numerous reconstructive techniques have been employed in the reconstruction of small to intermediate sized defects of oral cavity. Modified nasolabial flap is a versatile flap which has robust vascularity and can be successfully used with minimal complications. It can be rotated intraorally to extend from the soft palate to the lip. Thus, it can be used efficiently to treat the small defects of the oral cavity as well as recreating lost lip structure.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.37-40
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• 2010

Purpose: Reconstruction of eyebrow defects after wide excision of the benign and malignant tumors present a cosmetic challenge to the plastic surgeon. There were several methods for reconstruction of partial eyebrow defect with local flaps except hair bearing composite graft. We introduce simple eyebrow reconstruction with bilateral advancement flap and tattooing on the idea that eyebrow tattooing is popular permanent eyebrow makeup among elderly Korean women. Methods: The flaps were designed on both ends of the eyebrow defect along the upper and lower margin of the eyebrow. Both flaps were cut, undermined and were moved centrally to cover the defect. Both flaps were attached along the vertical suturing line. The rest of each flap was sown with dog-ears revised minimally. Scar lines would be hidden along the natural borders of the eyebrow if possible. The resulting vertical scar finally was covered with hair. After 8 months, eyebrow tattooing would be done to camouflage eyebrow shortening and scar. Results: Partial eyebrow defect was reconstructed successfully with bilateral advancement flap and tattooing. The postoperative scar was inconspicuous and eyebrow looked symmetric. Conclusion: We recommend partial eyebrow reconstruction with bilateral advancement flap and tattooing for the elderly Korean female patients after excision of small tumor in and around eyebrow region.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.148-151
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• 2018

The nose is an important landmark of the face and its shape and beauty is of significant concern. The columella is the subunit between the two nostrils that provides support and projection to the nasal tip and has functional role in nostrils, as well as aesthetic. Ethiology for columellar absence or deficiency is diverse, and it is one of the most complex nasal subunits to reconstruct because of its narrow horizontal dimension, its tenuous vascularity and limited availability of adjacent tissue. We present a patient with columellar, membranous septum and upper lip defect, due to oncological resection. The lip reconstruction was designed using advancement of two upper lip edges with the technique of webster perialar/nasocheek advancement. However, the perialar/nasocheek tissue which is usually discarded was used as inferiorly based skin flaps to reconstruct the membranous septum, columellar skin and nasal vestibule lining. Rib cage cartilage graft was used as columellar strut for support. At 1-year follow-up, the patient has good nasal contour and projection. Scaring of the columella is very subtle. This is a versatile way for successful reconstruction of a columella and large central facial defect in one-stage operation. It is a method which provides very satisfactory aesthetic result with minimum patient morbidity and discomfort.