[Reconstruction of large external nose defect with forehead flap].

Objective: To discuss the role of forehead flap in large external nasal defect reconstruction.
Method: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and follow-up data of 11 patients with large or full-thickness external nasal defects, which were reconstructed with single-or two-stage interpolated or island forehead flaps from January 2007 to June 2011. All patients were male,defects of 9 cases were resulted from resection of skin malignant tumor and traumatic defect in 2 cases. The average diameter of defects was 3.3 cm (2.5-5.0 cm). Four cases had alar full thickness defect. The supratrochlear and angular artery of the elders (>70 yrs) and patients with suspicious peripheral blood vessel lesions were scanned before the surgery by Doppler ultrasonic. The defects were reconstructed by two-stage interpolated flap in 7 cases; five cases were reconstructed by single-stage island flap technique. A nasolabial flap based on piriform aperture was turned into the nasal cavity to reconstruct the lining.
Result: All defects were repaired successfully. All tissue flap survived and the scar was not conspicuous. One patient had nostril stenosis with mild nasal congestion complain at the 6th postoperative month.
Conclusion: The forehead flap, interpolated or island, can be used safely and effectively to repair the large external nasal defect in experienced hands.