[Use of a rhomboid flap to repair temporal and frontotemporal cutaneous defects: 11 cases]

Abstract

Background: Temporal and frontotemporal skin defects can be repaired using various reconstruction procedures: temporojugal rotation-advancement flaps, frontotemporal advancement flaps, skin grafts, etc. We propose an alternative method using a rhomboid transposition flap, thus extending the possibilities for repair in this region.

Materials and methods: This is a retrospective, non-comparative study of patients in whom a rhomboid transposition flap of the temporal or frontotemporal region was created between February 2008 and March 2010. Sex, age, hospitalization, histological type of the excised lesion, type of anaesthesia, defect size, possible occurrence of complications and outcome were compiled from the medical records.

Results: Eleven patients (five women and six men) of average age 76 years were included. The lesions were due in all cases to basal cell carcinoma. Five patients were ambulatory and seven were hospitalized. All patients underwent surgery under local anaesthesia in a single session. Hospitalized patients had more extensive cutaneous defects, were older and had more comorbidities. One patient presented incomplete lateral resection. The most frequent complication was bruising on the lower eyelid (5/11), and two more severe complications occurred: distal flap necrosis and haematoma. The aesthetic result was good for all patients after a mean 20months of follow-up.

Conclusion: Rhomboid transposition flaps appear to be a reconstruction option that warrants consideration in cutaneous defects in the temporal or frontotemporal region.