Crafting New Faces: An In-Depth Look at Flap Surgery for Facial Defects
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Abstract
Introduction: Facial defects resulting from trauma and the excision of skin malignancies are relatively common. Management of the defects depends on a variety of factors, including the location, size, and underlying cause of the defect. Local flap surgery is commonly performed to cover defects with an appropriate skin color and texture match. The purpose of this study is to assess the various treatment options for defect coverage, outcomes, and complications.
Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study done at a tertiary care hospital's Department of Plastic Surgery between March 2021 and March 2024. Patients with facial defects who needed a flap were included in the study. Reconstruction options were selected based on age, defect size, location, and comorbidities. Data was collected and assessed using statistical analysis SPSS 20.
Results: 50 Patients of 18 to 75 years of age with facial defects were included in the study. Among the 50 cases, 12 were female and 38 were male. 5 had Nasolabial flaps, 8 Forehead, 8 Limberg and 13 Microvascular free flaps. Postoperatively complications included hematoma, and scar formation. 28 patients had excellent functional and aesthetic outcomes. The skin colour match was similar for all flaps, contour was better in local flaps than free flaps. However, local flaps allowed the donor scar to be hidden in a wrinkle line.
Conclusion: The most suitable flap for coverage of a face defect can be chosen based on the patient's condition, defect size and location.
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References
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