Functional reconstruction of the lower lip with Fujimori flap and long-term follow-up with clinical and electrophysiologic evaluations.

PURPOSE

The Fujimori gate flap is an innervated flap raised from the nasolabial area for reconstruction of the lower lip. No electromyographic or clinical long-term studies have analyzed the long-term outcomes of lower lip reconstruction performed using this method. The aim of the present study was to assess the outcomes of lower lip reconstruction with the Fujimori gate flap using clinical and electrophysiologic examinations.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Ten patients who had been treated with this procedure were evaluated clinically and electrophysiologically. The follow-up period was 1 year for all patients, and the patients underwent regular assessments.

RESULTS

All flaps survived completely, and no wound healing problems were encountered. Four patients underwent revision in the late postoperative period. The electrophysiologic studies revealed the presence of reinnervation in all 10 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, we found that the Fujimori gate flap is a versatile flap for ideal reconstruction of lower lip defects. Our electrophysiologic assessments showed that the transferred muscle had undergone reinnervation and that the donor area innervation had been preserved. The findings from the serial clinical and electrophysiologic assessments indicated satisfactory results.