Background: Peri-oral and oral soft tissue defects can be caused by several conditions, as resection of malignant and benign tumors, congenital malformations, traumatic injury. They can cause alterations in function and appearance of the affected area. Primary closure is the most commonly used technique for small defects, whilst medium and large defects require reconstruction with local, regional or free flaps. Local flaps are a good choice for reconstruction of medium-size defects of the lip, because they provide the same type of tissue, they are situated in proximity to the resected area, and they can be performed also in patients with multiple co-morbidities.
Aim: To evaluate the role of lip and perioral reconstruction in plastic surgery unit of General Surgery Department, Zagazig University Hospitals.
Methods: This study was carried out in plastic surgery department, Zagazig University Hospitals, from August 2018 to January 2019. It included 18 patients with perioral defects undergoing surgical tumor ablation. These patients were operated upon and referred to our outpatient clinic for the follow-up visits.
Results: Out of 18 cases included, Karapandzic flap was used in 6 cases while mucosal advancement, rhomboidal flap were used in 4 cases. Hypothesia in 27.8%. Sialorrhea was in 16.7%. Microstomia was in 33%, partially satisfied in 50% and satisfied 50% after 6 months of the study.
Conclusion: Local flaps provide the most satisfactory results and should be considered as the first choice for reconstruction of perioral defects.
Keywords: Perioral reconstruction, local flaps, perioral defects.