Double island pedicle or V-Y flap repair for partial-thickness combined defects of the cutaneous and mucosal lip

Abstract

Removal of skin cancer at or near the vermilion border may result in a partial-thickness combined cutaneous and mucosal lip defect for which repair has potential for poor cosmetic and functional outcomes. We sought to describe the closure and results from repair of combined lip defects using 2 island pedicle or V-Y flaps, 1 for the cutaneous lip and 1 for the mucosa. A retrospective review of all patients with combined defects of the lip who underwent double island pedicle or V-Y flap repair from June 2008 to December 2013 was performed. Ten patients (6 female, 4 male; ages 35-89 years, mean age 60 years) had defects on the upper lip in 8 cases and on the lower lip in 2 cases. Follow-up was for 3 months or longer with good or excellent outcomes in all cases. This was a nonrandomized, unblinded clinical case series with a limited sample size. Double island pedicle or V-Y flap repair is an elegant closure with good to excellent results and may avoid potential problems inherent in other repair options.