Application of facial artery nasolabial perforator flap in one-stage reconstruction of nasal tip defect

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical effect of the facial artery nasolabial perforator flap for one-stage reconstruction of the nasal tip defect.

MethodsThirty-six patients with nasal defects were reviewed, as a result of trauma and skin tumor resection, and the defect involved multiple subunits including the nasal tip.The patients were divided into two groups according to repair methods, 18 patients in each group.The observation group received facial artery nasolabial perforator flap for one-stage reconstruction, and the control group received frontal upper trochlear artery flap for reconstruction.Nose shape, scar severity, donor flap size and disease duration were compared between the two groups.

ResultsPerformance point of nasal tip was evident in all the two groups, and the difference was not statistirally significant (P>0.05).In the symmetry evaluation of both nostrils and nostrils, the patients in the observation group were significantly more symmetrical than those in the control group (P < 0.05).The observation group was lower than the control group in the scar severity scores such as area, thickness, softness and pigmentation (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).The observation group required a smaller donor flap and had a reduced disease duration(P < 0.01).

ConclusionsThe tissue amount of the nasolabial area is sufficient, the supply area is easy to be hidden, djacent to the external nasal tissue, and the blood supply is exact, the operation method is relatively simple, which is an ideal method to complete the one-stage reconstruction of the whole-layer defect of the nasal tip.