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CASE REPORT article

Front. Surg.
Sec. Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery
Volume 11 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fsurg.2024.1420673

A new variant of the forehead flap for subtotal nose reconstruction in a single stage: the dragonfly flap

Provisionally accepted
  • Plastic Surgery Unit, Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Padua, Padua, Italy

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background. The forehead flap is probably the most used method for nose reconstruction after cancer resection. During the past century, this technique has been continuously refined to achieve better functional and aesthetic outcomes. Different variations have been described, with the original technique being modified based on tissue loss, the layer to be replaced, and the management of the donor area. Methods. We propose a new and innovative version of the forehead flap in which both the forehead skin and the frontal muscle are harvested simultaneously using the same vascular pedicle. Partially separating the two layers allows muscle tissue to replace the inner layer and cover the nasal septum framework, while the skin will replace the outer layer. The nostrils are reconstructed simultaneously using bilateral hinge-over lining skin flaps harvested from the nasal folds. Results. Step by step, a schematic illustration of the technique is given, followed by a complete report on a successful total nose reconstruction case. Conclusions. Despite the increasing number of techniques which have been introduced to achieve full reconstruction of the nose, including microsurgical tissue transfer, the simultaneous replacement of both the inner and outer layers continues to be an issue for the plastic surgeon. In this article, we suggest a solution for total nose reconstruction in a single-stage procedure.

    Keywords: Forehead flap, nasal reconstruction, Rhinoplasty, Surgical technique, Skin Cancer

    Received: 20 Apr 2024; Accepted: 29 Jul 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Brambullo, Franchi, Masciopinto, De Lazzari, Vindigni and Bassetto. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Tito Brambullo, Plastic Surgery Unit, Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Padua, Padua, Italy

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.