[EFFECTIVENESS OF MODIFIED Zitelli BILOBED FLAPS FOR REPAIRING SOFT TISSUE DEFECT OF LOWER ONE-THIRD NOSE]

To investigate the clinical application of the modified Zitelli bilobed flaps in repairing soft tissue defect of lower one-third nose.

Between February 2009 and February 2014, 26 patients with soft tissue defect of lower one-third nose after resection of basal cell carcinoma underwent reconstruction using modified Zitelli bilobed flaps. There were 15 males and 11 females, aged 48-65 years (mean, 56 years). Tumor involved the skin layer in all patients. According to TNM staging, 19 cases were rated as T_isN₀M₀ and 7 cases as T₁N₀M₀. The disease duration was 1-5 years (mean, 3 years). The mass size ranged from 1.0 cm×0.5 cm to 1.5 cm×1.0 cm. The defect size ranged from 1.5 cm×1.0 cm to 2.0 cm×1.5 cm after resection of basal cell carcinoma. The modified ipsilateral Zitelli bilobde flaps were designed and harvested for one-stage repair of defect, and the double-leaf flap size ranged from 2.5 cm×2.0 cm to 3.0 cm×2.5 cm and 1.5 cm×1.0 cm to 2.0 cm×1.5 cm. The donor site defects were sultured directly.

Twenty-six flaps survived and incision healed primarily. No postoperative complications of hematoma, infection, and necrosis of skin flap occurred. No stretching deformation of local organs, the shape of the nose and face was symmetric. Twenty-six patients were followed up 3-24 months (mean, 13 months). Nasal and facial appearance was good and had no obvious scar formation, and patients were satisfied with the appearance. There was no tumor recurrence during follow-up.

The modified Zitelli bilobed flap to repair soft tissue defect of lower one-third nose (the defect diameter within 2.0 cm) can obtain satisfactory effectiveness in appearance.