Advancement Flap Using Excess Skin for Upper Eyelid Full-Thickness Defects.

ABSTRACT

Reconstruction of upper eyelid defects should aim for a moveable lid with perfect corneal protection and good aesthetic quality. Numerous procedures to reconstruct large upper eyelid defects have been reported, but these methods require 2-stage procedures. A new method for reconstructing full-thickness upper eyelid defects after tumor excision in a single stage was presented in this study. The preferred technique uses excess skin as an advancement flap together with an ear cartilage graft for the lining. Reconstruction was performed with an advancement flap using excess skin and ear cartilage for full-thickness defects after upper eyelid tumor excision. The rectangular flap was outlined on the excess skin of the upper eyelid. After tumor resection of the full-thickness defect, the ear cartilage was sutured to the remaining tarsus. The residual levator aponeurosis and posterior lamellar were connected to the transplanted ear cartilage. The outer layer was reconstructed with an advancement rectangular flap. The authors performed this technique for 4 patients, aged 62 to 88 years, for upper eyelid reconstruction. Good functional and aesthetic results were achieved for all patients. Our method involves a single-stage reconstruction, which is simpler and less invasive than other techniques.