Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026
Single-stage Dynamic Reanimation of the Smile in Irreversible Facial Paralysis by Free Functional Muscle Transfer
Published on: March 1, 2015
Abbe-Estlander flap reconstruction in infants with extensive upper lip defects following oncosurgery: Two case
Wei-Liang Chen1, Dao-Wei Lin2, Zi-Xian Huang1
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
Insights
The Abbe-Estlander (A-E) flap is effective for infant upper lip tumor reconstruction after surgery. This surgical approach offers safe and acceptable aesthetic outcomes for pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric oncology
- Plastic surgery
- Reconstructive surgery
Background:
- Malignant lip tumors in infants present significant surgical and reconstructive challenges.
- The Abbe-Estlander (A-E) flap is evaluated for its efficacy in repairing extensive upper lip defects post-oncosurgery in pediatric patients.
Observation:
- Two infants with upper lip malignancies (fibrosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma) underwent tumor resection and A-E flap reconstruction.
- Procedures were performed under general anesthesia with nasotracheal intubation, reporting no intraoperative complications.
- Postoperative outcomes included acceptable aesthetics and functional recovery, with no adjuvant chemotherapy required.
Findings:
- The A-E flap demonstrated effectiveness and safety in reconstructing large upper lip defects in infants following oncological surgery.
- Nasotracheal intubation proved to be a reliable anesthetic technique for these pediatric reconstructive procedures.
- Long-term follow-up showed no evidence of tumor recurrence in either patient.
Implications:
- Surgical resection combined with A-E flap reconstruction is a viable treatment option for infant upper lip malignancies.
- The study supports the use of the A-E flap for achieving favorable functional and aesthetic results in pediatric lip reconstruction.
- This approach offers a safe and effective solution for complex pediatric head and neck cancer cases.
Background:
Surgical resection of malignant lip tumors and the reconstruction of extensive lip defects in infants pose significant challenges. We evaluated the effectiveness of the Abbe-Estlander (A-E) flap in repairing upper lip defects in infants following oncosurgery.
Case Presentation:
We present two cases of pediatric upper lip malignancies: an 18-month-old infant diagnosed with fibrosarcoma (FS) of the right upper lip (Case 1) and a 19-month-old infant diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) of the left upper lip (Case 2). Both patients underwent surgical resection of the tumors followed by reconstruction of large upper lip defects using the A-E flap under general anesthesia via nasotracheal intubation. No complications were reported during the procedures. Postoperatively, neither patient received adjuvant chemotherapy. Both patients demonstrated acceptable aesthetic outcomes. Case 1 could use a straw, whereas Case 2 could breastfeed. At the 32- and 18-month follow-up, no recurrences were observed.
Conclusion:
Surgical resection, followed by reconstruction with an A-E flap, is an effective and safe treatment for these tumors in infants. In addition, general anesthesia via nasotracheal intubation is a reliable anesthetic technique for these procedures.
