The Washio tempororetroauricular flap: its use in 20 patients

It is surprising that in a recently published symposium on reconstruction of the nose, not one article mentioned the tempororetroauricular flap described by Washio. In our experience, this method is a very useful tool for difficult nasal reconstructions in young individuals. It is a safe procedure (not to be compared with free flaps of the same region), and it provides thin skin and cartilage that can be adapted for different types of defect. Exceptionally, it may provide a sufficient amount of tissue for a total nose reconstruction. As compared with most other techniques, it leaves no additional scar on the face.