Total Nasal Reconstruction: Advances in Free Tissue Transfer for Internal Lining and Structural Support.

Total nasal reconstruction is a complex challenge due to the need to establish new internal lining, internal structural support, and external skin covering that is both functional and esthetic. The medial femoral condyle corticoperiosteal free flap represents an innovative option for restoration internal structure and internal nasal lining. When used in conjunction with a paramedian forehead flap, acceptable results in both function and esthetics can be achieved.

Total nasal reconstruction for nasal defect after treatment for extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma, nasal-type: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Nasal-type extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphomas are a rare type of clinical condition. Reconstruction of the complex nasal defect after chemoradiation is extremely challenging for plastic surgeons. PRESENTATION OF CASE: Here we present the case of a 56-year old female with the condition of a nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma which had caused complex nasal disfigurement. The patient had undergone chemoradiotherapy. Lesions after treatment were present all over the nasal defect (nasal septum, mucosa, support frame and skin) and the left cheek medial subunit. The surgery was subdivided into 3 stages. First, we removed the infectious tissue and restored the wall of nasal cavity by the left forehead - scalp flap. Second, we used the pedicle of the left forehead flap to rebuild the nasal mucosa defect, the rotational flap to rebuild the cheek defect, and the right forehead flap to recovered skin defect of the nose. Finally, we divided the pedicle of right forehead flap. DISCUSSION: The complex nasal defect is difficult to reconstruct and has a higher risk of failure in patient who received chemoradiotherapy. It is crucial to choose the right materials and have a confident plan in order to achieve successful results for the sake of the patient. CONCLUSION: Our case report shows that the nasal defect caused by a nasal-type NK/T-cell lymphoma is complex. After our 3 stages plan for the surgery, as well as using multiple flaps for reconstruction from the forehead skin, the result was significant reduction in the disfiguration of the patient's nose.