Forehead skin expansion combine with auricular cartilage for repairing nose alar full-thickness defects

Abstract

Objective To discuss clinical curative effects of using Forehead skin expansion combine with auricular cartilage for repairing nose alar full-thickness defects. Methods From August 2010 to August 2010, 36 patients with nose alar full-thickness defects in the second affiliated hospital of kunmin medical university, The defect range exceed 1.5 cm×1.2 cm. 50-80 ml expander was implanted in forehead and injected saline water to expand in order to acquire extra skin .We Turn around the skin of defect as the lining of nose, harvest ipsilateral auricular cartilage for nose ala framework, Expanded forehead pedicle flap was transferred to cover framework. The donor area was sutured directly. The pedicle of flap was cut and trimmed after 2 months. Results Follow-up time of 3-18 months after the operation, All flaps are survive, nose alar defects are repaired successfully. Some cases were performed second surgery, postoperative, nose alar color, thickness, nostril size and shape the same with the contralateral side. Donor site healed with linear scar. Conclusions This method could be easy to obtain excess skin, for repairing large sides nose alar full-thickness defect. Frontal scar is not obvious, It is a practical. Key words: Nasal alar full-thickness defect; Expansion; Forehead flap; Auricular cartilage