Application of dolabriform flap in repairing periorbital skin and soft tissue defects

Abstract

Objective To discuss the efficacy and advantage of dolabriform flap in repairing periorbital skin and soft tissue defects.Methods 21 patients with periorbital skin disease were treated by radical resection,and then the adjacent or distant dolabriform flaps were designed for the one stage repair of skin and soft tissue defects in these cases according to the defect location,size,shape and neighborous skin conditions.The largest defect size was 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm,The smallest defect size was 1.2 cm × 1.5 cm.The largest ratio of hatchet pedicle width to axe handle length reached 1 ∶ 5,and the largest ratio of hatchet pedicle width to hatchet edge length was 1 ∶ 4.Results All of these dolabriform flaps in 21 patients survived well with primary incision healing.18 cases had been followed up for 3 to 12 months,showing that there was no deformation found on eyelids,eyebrow and nose,the colour of these flaps were similiar to that of the normal skin,without being fat and clumsy,all scars were almost invisible,and the cosmetic results were satisfactory.Conclusions Larger diameter of skin and soft tissue defect in different periorbital parts could be repaired individually with dolabriform flap according to the characters of natural lines,and it is a simple and flexible method for repairing periorbital skin defects,and can achieve satisfactory functional and cosmetic results. Key words: Face; Skin defect; Dolabriform flap; Tumor