Aplicaciones del colgajo frontonasal para la cobertura de defectos nasales

We present a retrospective review of patients in whom the frontonasal flap technique was performed to repair oncologic nasal defects. All patients were treated in the Skin Cancer Unit of our Department between January 2010 and May 2014. The aim of this study is to analyze our applications and results, in addition to describe an algorithm that allows us to indicate the different flap designs, according to the location and size of the defect. A total of 78 patients (49 females and 29 males) with an age range from 47 and 92 years (average of 73 years), underwent nasal reconstruction with a frontonasal flap after surgical resection of a nasal skin cancer (64 basal cell carcinomas, 16 squamous cell carcinomas and 1 melanoma) in a total of 81 defects (3 cases had 2 simultaneous carcinomas). The smallest defect measured 12 × 17 mm and the largest 30 × 35 mm (average of 22 × 25 mm). Follow-up time ranged from 2 months to 4 years (average of 2,5 years). Complications, which were minor in all patients, included marginal necrosis (6 cases), partial wound dehiscence (8 cases) and hypertrophic scar formation (1 case), mostly in male smokers. No flap loss was observed and the aesthetic result was satisfactory. In conclusion, the frontonasal flap offers the possibility of a single-stage reconstruction of the nasal area, including defects up to 30 × 35 mm of the nasal tip in our series. Is a reliable and versatile flap, which may present advantages over more comple× techniques, especially in older patients.