Reconstruction of the lower lip: Bernard technique and its variants

Abstract

Introduction: Surgical treatment of epidermoid carcinoma of the lower lip occasionally involves resection of a large part of this anatomic area. Several techniques are available for its repair, including Bernard's technique. Since its first description in 1853, this technique has incorporated several small modifications, which we discuss.

Materials and methods: We report our experience with nine patients who underwent resection of more than one-third of the lower lip due to epidermoid carcinoma, for the reconstruction of which we used four variants of Bernard's cheiloplasty, some already described and others original.

Results: The tumor was fully excised in all patients with a good functional and aesthetic result for the type of technique used. No patient had postsurgical complications or local relapse, and one patient developed lymph node metastasis in the cervical chain.

Conclusions: Bernard's cheiloplasty is a technique that, although quite complicated, is very useful for the reconstruction of lower lip losses greater than one-third of the overall size of the lower lip. The results provide for a good functionality of the lip and a satisfactory aesthetic aspect.