BACKGROUND

The nose is the part of the face that is most exposed to trauma, sunlight, and other environmental factors. From the aesthetic and functional point of view, reconstruction of the defects occurring after skin cancer removal creates a great challenge for the surgeon. In this retrospective study, we present the success rates achieved in the past 12 years with paramedian forehead flaps used for large nasal defect repairing.

METHODS

Seventy-seven patients were included who underwent paramedian forehead flaps due to nasal skin tumor basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma at the division of plastic surgery of IRCCS-Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Basilicata in Rionero in Vulture from 2010 to 2022. Data on follow-up time, patients' age and sex, defect sizes, and tumor histology were obtained retrospectively from patient files, histopathologic examination results, and patient photographs. Additional diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and coronary artery disease that could compromise flap success were noted.

RESULTS

Of 77 patients enrolled in our cohort, 42 were men and 35 were women. The average age was 68.3 years for male patients and 72.8 years for female patients. The mean follow-up period was 65 months. Of 77 patients, 45 (59.2%) were operated on for basal cell carcinoma and 31 (40.8%) for squamous cell carcinoma. Six patients (5.3%) had recurrence in their follow-up periods. There was no loss of the paramedian forehead flap.

CONCLUSIONS

The paramedian forehead flap is a reliable option in the reconstruction of larger defects of the nose, even in smokers and older patients who have comorbid diseases.