Use of skin flaps for nasal reconstruction after neoplastic resection

Background: Nasal reconstruction is always a challenge for the plastic surgeon. Loss of nasal mass is mainly caused by resection of skin cancers. Among the several available alternatives for covering the skin, skin flaps are the first cosmetic and functional choice. This study has 2 objectives: (1) to report the experiences of the Plastic Surgery Service of São Lucas Hospital of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil) in the reconstruction of nasal mass losses that resulted from tumor resection and (2) to describe the most commonly used skin flaps used for defect repair according to the anatomic subunit. Methods: This study analyzed 103 nasal skin flaps used in the reconstruction of 102 nasal mass losses that resulted from tumor resection in 96 patients who underwent surgery between December 2008 and December 2011. Mass losses were mapped according to the anatomic subunits described by Burget and Menick. Moreover, the number of times each strategy was chosen for the reconstruction of the different subunits was recorded. Results: Most of the patients were men (51%), and the average age of the analyzed group was 64.7 years. Basal cell carcinoma was the most prevalent skin cancer (85.3%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (5.9%). The bilobed flap was commonly used for nasal alar lobule reconstruction (44%); V-Y advancement for the lateral region (72%); extended glabellar for the nasal dorsum (59.2%); bilobed for the nasal tip (46.2%); and glabellar for the nasal roof as well as in the cases mentioned above. Conclusions: Several surgical procedures are used for nasal reconstruction following tumor resection. The most suitable strategy should be chosen according to the patient in order to maintain the contours and nasal anatomy, as described by Burget and Menick.