Soft tissue reconstruction in traumatic nasal defects by forehead flap: A tertiary care centre experience

Abstract

Forehead flap is the gold standard for nasal soft tissue reconstruction. The nose is a complex three-dimensional structure and along with the eyes, represents a major aesthetic focus of the face. The aim of this study is to review the use of forehead flap in nasal reconstruction and prospectively evaluate the outcome of treating nasal defects as an easy, effective and economical treatment in the Indian population.Material and Methods: This prospective study was conducted from March 2020 to May 2022. Patients with subtotal nasal defect who were above 18 years of age, and patients who were willing to give informed consent for treatment. Each participant underwent surgical debridement under loupe magnification combined with forehead flap cover after a full clinical assessment.Results: Twenty three participants were included in this study with an age range of 18–62 years with mean age (36.1±8.71). Out of these 6(26.1%) were female and 17(73.9%) were males. The defect were located over the dorsum and lateral nasal wall in 3 participants (13.1%), tip in 2(8.7%) patients, ala in 1(4.3%) patients and involved multiple subunit in 17(73.9%).Conclusion: The forehead flap represents the ideal reconstructive choice in patients with nasal defects. It has good textural, thickness and color match when compared with the recipient site tissues, with minor complications.