[Reconstruction of facial defects with the forehead flap: five case reports]

The authors present several cases of facial defects reconstruction with the forehead flap. They consist of three cases of nasal reconstruction after trauma, one cases of rhinectomy and orbital exenteration for spinocellular cancer of the nasolabial fold, and a case of orbital reconstruction after exenteration for malignant melanoma of the lower eyelid with an island flap. In one of the cases we used a preexpanded forehead flap and in one other a prefabricated flap with a split-thickness skin graft. In four of the cases no complications were observed and the flaps healed uneventfully with with satisfactory results according to the patients. In the case with the island flap we observed a partial flap necrosis. The authors discuss the advantages, disadvantages and results obtained after the facial defect reconstruction with the forehead flap.