Objectives: The present study was designed to assess the outcome of supratrochlear arterybased
paramedian forehead flap for nasal reconstruction after basal cell carcinoma (BCC)
surgical treatment.
Patients & methods: The study included 17 patients; 13 males and 4 females with mean age
of 53.2+6.3 years with biopsy confirmed BCC. Patients were assigned for lesion excision and
defect closure by supratrochlear artery-based paramedian forehead flap. Aesthetic outcome
was judged and scored as excellent (score=4), good (score=3), fair (score=2) and poor (score=1).
The functional result was judged regarding evaluation of their breathing through the reconstructed
side compared with preoperative function and expressed as better, the same, slightly worse, or
much worse than preoperatively.
Results: The mean aesthetic outcome offorehead flap was 3.2±0.9; 9 patients (52.9%) found
the aesthetic appearance of the recipient area excellent, another 5 patients (29.5%) found it
good, 2 patients (11.8%) found the outcome fair and only one patient (5.8%) reported poor
outcome. As regards the donor area; 2 patients (11.8%) found the donor area aesthetically
poor, another patient (5.8%) found it fair, 2 patients (11.8%) found it good while the remaining
12 patients (70.6%) found it excellent. Functional outcome expressed as breathing self-assessment
in comparison to preoperative assessment was better in 13(76.5%) patients; no changes in
3 (1 7.6%) patients and one patient (5.8%) reported worsening of breathing.
Conclusion: Paramedian forehead flap could be considered an appropriate procedure for
nasal construction after excision of BCC as it offers similar colour, texture, with high satisfaction
rate of aesthetic and functional outcome. |
