Reconstruction of the Distal Third of the Nose With Composite Ear-Helix Free Flap
Articles > Article · 2006
Authors: Cuneyt Ozek, Tahir GÜRLER, Ali Uckan, Ufuk Bilkay
Annals of Plastic Surgery, International, WoS, 2006, vol 58, pp 74-77
DOI: 10.1097/01.sap.0000252537.84610.1d
Summary
In Brief Full-thickness defects of the nose result in severe esthetic and functional problems. Regardless of the etiology of such defects, the complexity of the reconstruction process of full-thickness defects of this region is not correlated with the size of the defect. Local flaps are frequently used for reconstruction but often yielding facial scarring and bulky alae. Composite helical grafts are used for relatively small defects but defects of more than 2.0 cm in diameter require vascularized tissue transfer. Composite free flap from the root of the auricular helix has been used to reconstruct an anatomically diverse set of defects of the distal third of the nose, with satisfactory success in our series of 6 patients. Six distal third nasal defects were satisfactorily reconstructed in a single stage with composite free flaps from the root of the auricular helix.