Island chondro-mucosal flap and skin graft: a new technique in eyelid reconstruction

We report a new technique of large full thickness eyelid defect reconstruction using an axial island chondro-mucosal flap from the lateral aspect of the nose and a full-thickness skin graft. The flap is harvested undermining the skin and the subperiosteal plane and taking a strip of upper lateral cartilage and nasal mucosa. It is transposed to reconstruct the tarso-conjunctival plane of the missing eyelid and the skin defect repaired with a skin graft. The donor defect is repaired by direct closure. Satisfactory results were obtained in 3 patients. In our opinion, the technique is a reliable choice when dealing with large full thickness defects of the upper eyelid, and, in selected cases, of the lower eyelid.