Myocutaneous flap (V-Y design) from the nasal bridge for medial canthal reconstruction

Abstract

Repair of soft tissue loss of the medial canthal area is usually accomplished by using skin grafts or frontal flaps based on the glabellar vessels. However, skin grafts can provoke scar tissue contracture, or skin color chromatic changes (hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation). On the other hand, frontal flaps are sometimes thicker than normal skin and lead to unsatisfactory aesthetic results. To avoid these disadvantages, the authors designed an alternative method for reconstruction of defects of the medical canthal area. The authors suggest using a myocutaneous flap (V-Y design) from the nasal bridge to repair soft tissue defects no larger than 2 cm in diameter (surface < 4 cm2) in the medial canthal area. The pedicle of this flap is based on supratrochlear and dorsal nasal vessels. This technique has proved safe and reliable and has led to good functional and cosmetic results.