• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.60-63
• /
• 2001

The reconstruction of the suborbital area followed by resection of skin cancer has been used many methods including skin graft, local flaps, free flaps, and skin expansion. The radial forearm free flap has become a workhorse flap in this area because of its lack of bulk, ease of dissection, malleability, and hairlessness. When the suborbital defect especially including full-thickness defect of lower lid was reconstructed with many free flaps, the ectropion and the deformity of medial and lateral canthal area were common problems encountered as late complication due to gravitational descent. To improve the final aesthetic result in patients with suborbital defect, the radial forearm free flap was elevated as a composite radial forearm - palmaris longus free flap, in which the vascularized palmaris longus london was included and anchored to the periorbital bone with $mitek^{(R)}$ as sling, to suspend the flap against gravity and inferior descent, and thereby creating a more natural cheek contour. Two clinical cases were presented as an example of this procedure. Postoperative results emphasize the importance of suspension sling with palmaris longus tendon using $mitek^{(R)}$ in reconstruction of the suborbital defect with radial forearm free flap.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.185-188
• /
• 2000

The goals of lip reconstruction are to provide oral competence, adequate support for the lower lip, contour restoration, adequate lip sulcus, and adequate oral aperture. The composite radial forearm palmaris longus free flap is thin enough that it can be folded onto itself without a significant increase in bulk. The flap is easy to dissect, the pedicle contains long vessels of large diameter, and the skin is a good color and texture match for the perioral region. Moreover, the vascularized tendon can be used for lower lip reconstruction. This makes the flap ideally suited for total lower lip reconstruction. We experienced the case of total lower lip excision and reconstruction with the radial forearm free flap including palmaris longus tendon, so we reported that case with literature. The patient has a lower lip squamous carcinoma(T3NIM0), and performed a total lower lip excision with right modified radical neck dissection and left extended supraomohyoid neck dissection, and a reconstruction with radial forearm free flap includng palmaris longus tendon. The oral competence and masticatory function were nearly normalized and cosmetical result was very acceptable.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.48-52
• /
• 2011

Purpose: Many advances have been made in lower eyelid reconstruction surgical procedures after tumor ablative therapy. These include skin grafts, local flaps, free flaps, and skin expansion. When a full-thickness defect of the lower eyelid is reconstructed with many free flaps, ectropion and deformity of the medial and lateral canthal areas are common late complications caused by gravitational descent. The radial forearm free flap is widely used because of its lack of bulk, ease of dissection, malleability, and hairlessness. This report introduces a novel method for preventing ectropion using a composite radial forearm free flap reconstruction and palmaris longus suspension technique. Methods: A 70-year-old man had a malignant melanoma on his left lower eyelid. The patient was referred to our department after a biopsy confirmed the initial diagnosis. A full-thickness wide resection with a 25 mm free margin was performed, and a $5{\times}8cm$ radial forearm flap was elevated with a vascularised palmaris longus tendon. The palmaris longus tendon was fixed to the medial and lateral orbital rim perisoteum and the deep temporal fascia. The buccal mucosa was grafted to reconstruct the inner conjunctival layer. The pedicle vessels were anastomosed to the left superficial temporal artery and vein. Results: The postoperative clinical course was uneventful. The flap showed good texture and color match. No ectropion was noted 14 months after surgery and the tumor did not recur. The patient was quite satisfied with the final outcomes. Conclusion: Use of a radial forearm free flap and the palmaris longus tendon is an effective method for a full-thickness lower eyelid reconstruction.