Limberg flap revisited: for closure of facial soft tissue defects

Abstract

The Limberg or rhomboid flap can be used to close defects almost anywhere on the body. It is versatile in that a random pattern flap can be raised from any one or all corners of the rhomboid. The defect is filled with tissue of the same thickness and colour, and with good vascularity. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the versatility that a single flap can be used to close defects almost anywhere on the body. This study was conducted in the department of plastic and reconstructive surgery, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, during the period between January 2018 and December 2019. Twenty patients (fifteen males and five females) took part in this study. Their ages ranged from 20-60 years with a mean age of 42 years. From each patient history was taken and physical examination was performed. All the procedures were done under local anesthesia. Postoperatively suture removal was done on the 5th post-operative day. There were twenty patients who took part in the study. Seventeen patients had naevi and three had basal cell carcinoma. The size of the lesions ranged from 2.0×1.8 cm to 4.8×4.5 cm. All the flaps settled well with no complications. The procedure resulted in a very fine and less noticeable scar with smooth contour of the skin which was acceptable in all patients. Limberg flap is a safe and reliable option that could be used in the reconstruction of small and medium‐sized cutaneous defects of the face especially in elderly patients with no morbidity.