Paramedian Forehead Flap in Large Nasal Skin Defects: Twenty-years' Experience

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Dermatology
• Oncology

Background:

• Nasal skin cancers are common and pose reconstructive challenges.
• Defect reconstruction after skin cancer removal requires aesthetic and functional consideration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the success rates of paramedian forehead flaps for nasal defect reconstruction.
• To assess flap reliability over a 20-year period.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 62 patients undergoing paramedian forehead flap for nasal skin tumors (basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma) between 2000-2020.
• Data collected included follow-up time, patient demographics, defect size, tumor type, and comorbidities.
• Flap success was evaluated based on absence of flap loss and recurrence rates.

Main Results:

• No paramedian forehead flap loss was observed in any of the 62 patients.
• Four patients (6.5%) experienced tumor recurrence during the follow-up period.
• The study included patients with basal cell carcinoma (53.2%) and squamous cell carcinoma (46.8%).

Conclusions:

• Paramedian forehead flap is a dependable reconstructive option for significant nasal defects.
• The flap demonstrates high success rates even in elderly patients and smokers with comorbidities.