Single Stage Turn in Perforator Infraorbital Artery Island Flap for Nasal Ala Reconstruction

BACKGROUND The reconstruction of fullthickness nasal alla defects is challenging procedure. Use of local flaps is acceptable approach. Flap based on infraorbital artery could be used for primary reconstruction of nasal ala defects. METHODS The prospective study include consecutive series of 15 patients with advanced skin carcinoma of the nasal ala and medial cheek staged T4 by TNM, in whom the turn in infraorbital flap was used. The patient characteristics, type of carcinoma and complications were analyzed. RESULTS The turn in infraorbital flap was used mostly in male patients (80%), mean age 64 years. The basal cell skin carcinoma was found in 60%. Skin layer was skin grafted. All flaps survived, but in one case a partial wound dehiscence in one partial skin graft loss was found, and in two patients partial nasal obstruction occurred. These three complications were solved as secondary procedures under local anesthesia. CONCLUSION Full-thickness defect of the nasal ala can be properly reconstructed using flap based on infraorbital artery providing exceptional esthetic and functional results, as single stage procedure.