Double rhomboidal flap for reconstruction of large surgical defect of the labial commissure

Retalho romboidal duplo para reconstrução de defeito cirúrgico da comissura labial

CASE REPORT

Double rhomboidal flap for reconstruction of large surgical defect of the labial commissure^*

Retalho romboidal duplo para reconstrução de defeito cirúrgico da comissura labial

Pedro Andrade^I; Ana Brinca^I; Ricardo Vieira^II; Américo Figueiredo^III

^IM.D. - Specializing in Dermatology and Venereology - Dermatology and Venereology Service of the University of Coimbra Teaching Hospitals (Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra), EPE - Coimbra, Portugal

^IIM.D. - Specialist in Dermatology and Venereology - Hospital Assistant at the Dermatology and Venereology Service of the University of Coimbra Teaching Hospitals (Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra), EPE - Coimbra, Portugal

^IIIPh.D. - Specialist in Dermatology and Venereology - Director of the Dermatology and Venereology Service of the University of Coimbra Teaching Hospitals (Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra), EPE - Coimbra, Portugal

^{Mailing address}

ABSTRACT

Closure of perioral surgical defects involving the oral commissures is highly challenging. We describe a 69-year-old male patient with a large basal cell carcinoma of the right perioral region, extending to the right oral commissure. This lesion was radically excised, and the resulting surgical defect was closed using a homolateral double opposing rhomboidal flap. The final result was esthetically very satisfactory, with total preservation of lip function. Double opposing rhomboidal flaps are viable surgical options for the reconstruction of surgical defects involving the perioral area and oral commissures. In this relatively simple procedure, donor skin is obtained from the nearby cheek and mandibular areas, under low risk of surgical complications, preserving lip function without distortion of the labial anatomy.

Keywords: carcinoma, basal cell; lip; surgical flaps

RESUMO

A abordagem de defeitos cirúrgicos da região perioral, em particular das comissuras labiais, é um desafio importante na prática cirúrgica dermatológica. Apresentamos o caso de um doente do sexo masculino, de 69 anos, com extenso carcinoma basocelular ulcerado da região perioral direita, com envolvimento da comissura labial. Foi realizada excisão radical da lesão e reconstrução do defeito cirúrgico com retalho romboidal duplo das regiões geniana e mandibular homolaterais. O resultado cosmético final foi satisfatório, com preservação da funcionalidade das estruturas labiais. O retalho romboidal duplo é uma alternativa viável para a reconstrução de defeitos cirúrgicos da comissura labial, de execução relativamente simples, com baixo risco de complicações, que oferece óptimos resultados funcionais e cosméticos, sem distorção da anatomia labial.

Palavras-chave: carcinoma basocelular; lábio; retalhos cirúrgicos

INTRODUCTION

Non-melanoma skin cancer is common on the face, namely on perioral skin. ^1,2,3 Squamous cell carcinomas predominate on the lower lip, particularly on the vermillion, and basal cell carcinomas are common on the upper lip. Any surgical procedure involving the perioral skin requires special attention concerning the preservation of cosmetic and functional properties of local structures, as small deformities may result in severe implications in facial symmetry, speech and oral continence.

CASE REPORT

We describe a 69-year old male patient who was observed with a 2.5cm wide infiltrated, pigmented and centrally ulcerated plaque with unclearly delimited borders located on the right perioral region, extending to the ipsilateral oral commissure and distal melolabial fold, with progressive growth in the previous three years (Figure 1). This non-smoking patient reported intensive chronic sun exposure during his life and antecedents of stable angina pectoris, arterial hypertension and benign prostatic hyperplasia, regularly medicated with acetylsalicylic acid 100mg o.d., lisinopril 20mg o.d., simvastatin 20mg o.d. and isosorbid mononitrate 20mg o.d.

The histological analysis of an incisional biopsy was consistent with an ulcerated basal cell carcinoma, requiring radical excision. A double rhomboidal flap was considered for closure of the resulting surgical defect. Radical excision was performed under local anesthesia (lidocaine chloridrate 2%), respecting the limits of a previously defined triangular area centered in the tumour, with posterior vertex and parasagittal anterior base lining medial to the right oral commissure. This triangle included the whole tumour and the conventional surrounding 4mm surgical margins (Figure 2). Simultaneously, two rhomboidal donor areas were defined on the cheek and mandibular region by two lines placed parallel to each triangle side respecting a 2cm interval, the former partially matching with the nasolabial fold. After tumour excision and careful hemostasis using bipolar elecrocoagulation, both flaps were rotated towards the surgical defect and sutured to each other, forming a transversal scar aligned with the oral commissures (Figures 3 and 4).

The surgical procedure was performed in a single stage without intercurrences. Postoperative complications were not reported and the final esthetic result was very satisfactory, with total preservation of lip function.

DISCUSSION

The double rhomboidal flap is a viable option for reconstructing large surgical defects of the oral commissures. The transposition of two symmetric rhomboidal flaps obtained in opposing donor skin areas allows the annulment of local tension forces, minimizing the risk of local deformation, particularly the distortion of the oral commissure. ⁴ This is, in fact, the main advantage of this reconstructive technique, avoiding cosmetically inacceptable lip asymmetries and oral sphincter dysfunction. The closure of the secondary surgical defects contributes to compensation of the tension forces, stabilizing the perioral area and originating scars that are partially coincident with anatomic folds.

It is a technically simple procedure, easily performed under local anesthesia in a single stage, and highly versatile, as it has been described for reconstruction of surgical defects in diverse skin areas, not exclusively in the face. ^4-7 In the described case, despite originating three parallel scars disposed across the cheek and mandibular areas, we consider that the reasonable cosmetic result is highly compensated by the structural and functional benefit concerning the lip and perioral architecture.

Received on 17.05.2011.

Approved by the Advisory Board and accepted for publication on 13.07.2011.

Conflict of interest: None

Financial funding: None

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• 2. Custódio G, Locks LH, Coan MF, Gonçalves CO, Trevisol DJ, Trevisol FS. Epidemiologia dos carcinomas basocelulares em Tubarão, Santa Catarina (SC), Brasil, entre1999 E 2008. An Bras Dermatol. 2010;85:819-26.
• 3. Nunes DH, Back L, Silva RV, Medeiros VS. Incidência do carcinoma de células escamosas da pele na cidade de Tubarão (SC) - Brasil nos anos de 2000, 2003 e 2006 An Bras Dermatol. 2009;84:482-8.
• 4. Wu HL, Le SJ, Zheng SS. Double opposing-rhomboid flaps for closure of a circular facial defect in a special position. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2009;33:523-6.
• 5. Akyürek M, Safak T. Direct closure of radial forearm free-flap donor sites by double-opposing rhomboid transposition flaps: case report. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2002;18:33-6.
• 6. Bullock JD, Hamdi B. Double rhomboid flap in ophthalmic plastic surgery. Ophthalmic Surg. 1980;11:431-4.
• 7. El-Tawil S, Carapeti E. Use of a double rhomboid transposition flap in the treatment of extensive complex pilonidal sinus disease. Colorectal Dis. 2009;11:313-7.

*

Study carried out at the Dermatology and Venereology Service of the University of Coimbra Teaching Hospitals (Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra), EPE - Coimbra, Portugal.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  15 June 2012
• Date of issue
  June 2012

History

• Received
  17 May 2011
• Accepted
  13 July 2011