Prelaminated Free Flap Reconstruction of Complex Central Facial Defects

Abstract

This article is a review of five patients who underwent reconstruction of nasal and paranasal facial defects with prelaminated forearm free flaps. The defects resulted from thermal injury, gunshot wound, excision of tumor, and arteriovenous malformation (n = 2). The forearm flaps were based on the radial artery (n = 4) and ulnar artery (n = 1) and were prelaminated with grafts of skin and cartilage. All flaps were successfully transferred to the face, but revisions were needed to separate the subunits and improve appearance. A prelaminated free flap should be considered for a patient requiring reconstruction of a complex central facial defect.

Serie de Casos: Resolución de Patologías con Colgajo Preformado

“…Cuando se utiliza un expansor tisular genera una cápsula altamente vascular que contribuye a la vascularidad del colgajo. Otro beneficio de dicho implante es que facilita la disección en el segundo procedimiento, a pesar de que el colgajo es más grueso y proporciona piel para un cierre directo del sitio donador [7][8][9][10].…”

Osteoplastic surgery of the face – state of the art and future aspects

“…First attempts to provide an intracavitary lining by prelamination in the head and neck region were introduced since the mid-1990s [47,[52][53][54][55].…”

“…Until now these three factors are not considered in all other concepts of prefabrication [33,34,44,47,48,52,53]. We discussed this matter in a letter to an international journal [65][66][67].…”

Free Tissue Reconstruction Following Excision of Head and Neck Arteriovenous Malformations

“…8 Prelamination, the incorporation of preformed cartilage into the flap for reconstruction in a staged fashion prior to tissue transfer, may also be used for complex facial areas requiring reconstruction, such as the nose. 16 In our series, rectus abdominis, radial forearm, scapula, and latissimus dorsi flaps were used without consideration given to sensation or movement capabilities.…”