Bilateral Karapandzic Flap, a Saviour for Subtotal Lower Lip Reconstruction

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Head and Neck Oncology
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Lip defects significantly impact facial aesthetics, speech, and eating.
• Reconstruction is crucial for function and appearance after trauma or cancer excision.
• Large lower lip defects (over two-thirds) present significant reconstructive challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of the bilateral karapandzic flap for subtotal lower lip reconstruction.
• To assess functional and cosmetic outcomes in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lip.
• To present the bilateral karapandzic flap as an alternative to free flaps in resource-constrained environments.

Main Methods:

• Case study of two patients with subtotal lower lip defects due to squamous cell carcinoma.
• Reconstruction performed using the bilateral karapandzic flap.
• Assessment of functional outcomes (speech, eating) and cosmetic results post-surgery.

Main Results:

• Successful reconstruction of subtotal lower lip defects in both cases.
• Reasonable functional outcomes achieved, preserving speech and food intake.
• Acceptable cosmetic results and patient satisfaction reported.
• The bilateral karapandzic flap demonstrated effectiveness in challenging lip reconstruction scenarios.

Conclusions:

• The bilateral karapandzic flap is a valuable reconstructive option for subtotal lower lip defects.
• It provides a viable alternative to free flaps, particularly in resource-limited settings.
• This technique can achieve satisfactory functional and aesthetic results in lip cancer reconstruction.