Summary
Four cases with large defects of the upper lip and adjacent cheek, reconstructed with radial forearm free flaps, are presented. The defects were secondary to tumor excision, three recurrent and one primary. Because of the extensive infiltration of the tumor into the adjacent tissues, the excisions were extensive. There were also large mucosal defects. Free radial forearm flaps were chosen to repair these defects instead of local cheek or lip flaps. The free flap was easily folded to repair skin and mucosa simultaneously. Although the patients had partial loss of orbicularis oris muscle, they did not completely lose upper lip function. Drooling was controlled, and there was no microstomia. This is the free flap of choice to repair a large defect of the upper lip and adjacent cheek tissue in selected cases.
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Acartürk, S., Akmanlar, F. & Dalay, C. The free radial forearm flap for closure of large defects of upper lip and adjacent cheek tissue. Eur. J. Plast. Surg. 12, 60–65 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02892653
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02892653