Patient-Reported Nasal Function and Appearance After Interpolation Flap Repair Following Skin Cancer Resection: A...

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Otolaryngology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Nasal reconstruction is crucial for restoring function and aesthetics after skin cancer removal.
• Two-stage interpolated flap repair is a common technique for significant nasal defects.
• Patient-reported outcomes are essential for evaluating reconstructive surgery effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare nasal function and appearance before and after two-stage interpolated flap repair.
• To assess patient perceptions using the Nasal Appearance and Function Evaluation Questionnaire (NAFEQ).

Main Methods:

• A multicenter prospective cohort study involving 169 adult patients.
• Patients with nasal skin cancer undergoing two-stage interpolated flap repair were enrolled.
• NAFEQ was administered pre-surgery, and at 1, 4, and 16 weeks post-takedown.

Main Results:

• 138 patients completed pre-surgical and 16-week post-takedown NAFEQs.
• Overall NAFEQ scores showed a 1.91% improvement (1.09 points).
• Functional and appearance subscales improved by 2.58% and 1.28%, respectively.

Conclusions:

• At 16 weeks post-takedown, patient-reported nasal function and appearance are comparable to pre-surgical levels.
• The two-stage interpolated flap repair demonstrates a slight improvement in patient satisfaction with nasal form and function.