Nasal reconstruction with forehead skin flap and muscle flap

Objective: To improve the paramedian forehead flap for nasal reconstruction.

Methods: Based on the findings of the Cutaneous branch of supratrochlear artery, the forehead musculo-cutaneous flap was divided into the musculo-flap and the skin-flap in 3 patients. The musculo-flap were used to reconstruct the septi-bone structure, and envelop silicon nasal-frame, while the skin-flap were used to reconstruct the nose. In 6 patients, the forehead flap was used as a skin-flap just with the muscle pedicle to reconstruct a nose with good appearance of nasal subunits, without the secondary operation.

Results: In all of 9 cases, the cutaneous-branch of supratrochlear artery was found 1.7-2.0 cm above the orbital-rim. Eight patients got good results, only 1 patient had to do the secondary operation to coverage the exposed nasal frame.

Conclusions: The cutaneous-branch of supratrochlear artery could be an anatomical finding to form the forehead skin-flap and it is a good choice to be used to reconstruct a nose, even in complicated cases.