Introduction
The goals of lower lip reconstruction are maintenance of adequate oral stoma, restoration of oral competence, to maintain speech, to preserve sensation, to provide both skin cover and oral lining and to produce an aesthetically satisfying result. A number of local flaps are available for reconstruction of lip defects, although free flaps may also be used for more extensive defects. Local flaps achieve better aesthetic and functional results compared with free flaps. In this study, we evaluate the near total lower lip reconstruction using single-stage McGregor musculomucocutaneous cheek rotational flap.
Aim
The aim of this study was to evaluate the near total lower lip reconstruction using McGregor musculomucocutaneous cheek rotational flap.
Patients and methods
This prospective study was performed at the Plastic Surgery Unit, Fayoum University Hospital, in the period from October 2015 to April 2017. Eight patients with squamous cell carcinoma at the lower lip excised with safety margin ranging from 0.5 to 1 cm in each side, leaving defects more than 2/3 of the length of the lower lip, were included in this study. Reconstruction was done in all patients using McGregor musculomucocutaneous flap.
Results
The mean age of the patients was 61.4 years (range: 55–70 years). Five patients were male and three patients were female. In all patients the angles of the mouth were symmetrical with preservation of the anatomic proportions of the lip, except in two patients there were some mucosal folds at the rotation point at the commissure. In all patients, the philtrum had a normal shape and position. The oral mobility was good in all patients, which was evaluated by facial expressions and sound formations.
Conclusion
Although more number of cases are required to build up our conclusion, according to our results on this low number of patients McGregor musculomucocutaneous cheek rotational flap is considered a good option for near total lower lip reconstruction with good functional and aesthetic outcomes.