Functional and Aesthetic Lower Lip Reconstruction With Depressor Anguli Oris Muscle Flap and Reverse Superior Labial...

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Background:

• Lower lip defects impair essential functions like eating, speaking, and facial expressions.
• Reconstructing the lower lip requires replacing mucosa, muscle, and skin for optimal function and aesthetics.
• Achieving both functional and aesthetic repair of lower lip defects presents a surgical challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel surgical technique for subtotal lower lip defect repair.
• To assess the functional and aesthetic outcomes of using combined muscle and artery flaps for lower lip reconstruction.
• To determine the efficacy of an innervated depressor anguli oris muscle flap and a reverse superior labial artery flap.

Main Methods:

• Subtotal lower lip reconstruction in seven male patients (mean age 63) using an innervated depressor anguli oris muscle flap and a desepithelialized reverse superior labial artery flap.
• The depressor anguli oris muscle flap addressed orbicularis oris muscle defects.
• The reverse superior labial artery flap provided mucosal and skin coverage.

Main Results:

• Complete survival of all reverse superior labial artery flaps without loss.
• Successful epithelialization of flap portions by the 6th week.
• Electromyography confirmed depressor anguli oris muscle contractility at 6 months, with sensation return during follow-up.

Conclusions:

• The combined use of an innervated depressor anguli oris muscle flap and a desepithelialized reverse superior labial artery flap is a viable surgical option.
• This technique offers a valuable approach for achieving functional and aesthetic repair of subtotal lower lip defects.
• The study highlights the potential of this combined flap strategy in reconstructive surgery.