CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arch Plast Surg 2022; 49(03): 423-426
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1748653
Pediatric/Craniomaxillofacial/Head & Neck
Idea and Innovation

Reverse Facial-submental Artery Island Flap with Reinnervation of the Anterior Belly of the Digastric Muscle

1   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Ichikawa General Hospital, Tokyo Dental College, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan
2   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yokohama Municipal Citizen's Hospital, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
,
2   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yokohama Municipal Citizen's Hospital, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Reconstruction of the upper lateral lip subunit is challenging, and use of several classical local flaps have been previously reported. However, these methods have drawbacks such as visible scarring, anatomic distortion, and functional disability. To obtain satisfactory results, preservation of perioral function is important. We report a case of functional upper lip reconstruction after tumor resection using a reverse facial-submental artery island flap with a reinnervated anterior belly of the digastric muscle (ABDM) without sacrificing the perioral structure. A 73-year-old man presented with basal cell carcinoma on the left upper lip which was widely excised, including the orbicularis oris muscle. The remaining 4 cm × 3.5 cm defect was reconstructed using a reverse facial-submental artery island flap with ipsilateral ABDM. The motor nerve of the ABDM was sutured with the stump of the buccal branch of the ipsilateral facial nerve. The postoperative course was uneventful, and good functional and esthetic recovery were observed at 12-month follow-up. This procedure may be an alternative option for reconstruction of lateral upper lip defects.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization: S.H. Methodology: S.H. and T.M. Preparing original draft: S.H. Approval of final manuscript: S.H. and T.M.


Ethical Approval

This study was approved by the relevant institutional review board and performed in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.


Patient Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.




Publication History

Article published online:
27 May 2022

© 2022. The Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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