One-Stage Inferior Labial Flap and Its Pertinent Anatomic Study

Abstract

One-stage inferior labial flap, as a one-stage technique of Abbe flap, is based on the constant axial labial coronary arterial arch constituted by the inferior labial artery and/or the sublabial artery, which is presented by anatomic study on 17 human cadavers. This technique was applied in 12 cases of secondary labial defect on the cleft lip. One flap necrosed as the arterial arch was severed. Another flap had partial mucosa necrosis and the other 10 flaps survived. The fact that the arterial arch has no axial vena comitants, accounts for venous congestion in some cases and makes the technique applicable only to those patients with great disproportion between the upper and lower lips