The grafted frontalis muscle flap: A simple and efficient lining for aesthetic reconstruction of full thickness nasal sidewall defects

• Published in: Annales de chirurgie plastique et esthétique 2024-03, Vol.69 (2), p.200-205
• Main Author: Belmahi, A
• Format: Article
• Language: eng ; fre
• ISSN: 1768-319X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anplas.2023.07.005

The reconstruction of thin and well-vascularized lining is capital for the aesthetic reconstruction of full thickness nasal defects. The mucosal flaps allow such reconstruction, but their dissections are difficult and not always possible, particularly for large defects of the nasal sidewall unit. The grafted frontalis muscle flap allows easily such lining reconstruction. This technique includes 3 stages, all done under local anaesthesia: 1st stage: a vertical paramedian forehead flap is classically raised and it's undersurface is full thickness skin grafted, it is then repositioned on it's site for 4 weeks; 2nd stage: this flap is raised again and split at the level of fat, just superficial to the muscle, in two flaps: the full thickness skin grafted frontalis muscle flap for the lining; and the forehead flap, without it's frontalis muscle, for the skin coverage; a sculpted cartilaginous graft is inserted between these two flaps and sutured to the lining with the aim of obtaining a symmetrical nasal sidewall and the necessary rigidity to avoid the heminasal collapse during inspiration; 3rd stage: 4 weeks after the second stage, the pedicles of these two flaps are severed. No vascular problems and no infections were seen with this technique in 11 patients operated on for evolved basal cell carcinoma of the nasal sidewall since 2018. The aesthetic results were always very satisfactory without any discomfort during breathing.