Research Information System
TURKISH JOURNAL OF PLASTIC SURGERY, vol.22, no.3, pp.96-100, 2014 (ESCI, Scopus)
Introduction: Medial canthal region is an important anatomical region both aesthetically and functionally and it is also a common location for skin malignancies. Medial canthal region skin defects most commonly occur after tumor excisions. This study was designed to evaluate reconstruction alternatives of medial canthal region skin defects. Material and Methods: Reconstruction methods of medial canthal region skin defects performed in our clinic in the last decade reviewed retrospectively. Age, sex, histopathological findings of the patients and reconstructive methods were evaluated. Results: Medial canthal region skin defects of 61 patients with a mean age of 60.7 was reconstructed in our clinic. Mean size of the defects were 1.0 x 0.7 cm. When the methods of reconstruction evaluated retrospectively; 13 defects were primarily closed, 15 defects were covered with full thickness skin grafts, 21 defects were reconstructed with local flaps from forehead region, 14 defects reconstructed with local flaps from cheek region and one defect was reconstructed with a flap from nasal region. Conclusions: The principles of the reconstruction is to ensure color and tissue match with a non hair bearing skin that prevents distortion, ectropion and epiphora while preserving the natural concavity of the medial canthal region. When the defects are not suitable for primary closure or full thickness skin grafting, local flaps are the best options.