Nasal reconstructive techniques following Mohs surgery or excisions: a systematic review

Numerous reconstructive techniques for nasal defects following skin cancer removal have been described; however, the literature lacks a comprehensive systematic review. Our objective was to systematically review nasal reconstruction methods after tumor removal, correlate the use of specific techniques to the nasal subunits involved, assess the quality of the available evidence, and set the stage for future research on this topic. Eight databases were searched for studies published in English from January 2004 to December 2018 containing repair data for nasal defects following Mohs or excision for four or more subjects. Recorded data included author specialties, study design, subject number, demographics, defect characteristics, procedure type, reconstructive methods, outcome measures, and complications. One-hundred and eleven studies were included. Study types included case series (73%), observational cohort studies (25%), and clinical trials (2%). Most authors were dermatologic surgeons (61%). Resection was most commonly performed via Mohs (82%). Flaps (42%), linear closures (28%) and grafts (25%) were most utilized for reconstruction. In Zones I and II, transposition flaps were the most common followed by advancement flaps. In Zone III, full thickness skin grafts were the most common repair. Most studies were case series or small cohort studies, representing low level evidence. Flaps are the most common method described in the literature for nasal reconstruction. The overall quality of the evidence available on this topic is low.