Abstract
Reconstruction of the nose and scalp after resection of cutaneous malignancy can be
challenging, and can involve multiple stage surgery and cause secondary scarring in
adjacent facial areas. The author describes his experience of a series of 100 composite
full thickness skin and fat grafts in the head and neck region using the neck as the
donor site. The technique was used to reconstruct the nose (n = 48) and scalp including temple and forehead (n = 46), and at 6 other sites, mainly the cheek or lower eyelid. Defects ranged in size
from 11 to 36 mm and the thickness of fat varied from 1 to 5 mm. One flap failed, one patient had necrosis of roughly 30% of the graft, which did
not require surgical intervention, and one patient had early defatting of a prominent
graft. The author outlines the technique used and the complications, and discusses
the benefits and limitations of the technique, which, he believes, has a role in carefully
selected patients.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 27, 2011
Accepted:
January 1,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
