The use of the paramedian forehead flap alone or in combination with other techniques in the reconstruction of periocular defects and orbital exenterations
Terence Ang, Valerie Juniat, Micheal A. O’Rourke, James Slattery, Brett O’Donnell, Alan A. McNab, Thomas G. Hardy, Yugesh Caplash, Dinesh Selva
Abstract
PURPOSE: The paramedian forehead flap (PMFF) is a reconstructive option for large eyelid defects and orbital exenterations. We report a series of cases where PMFF reconstruction was carried out at various institutions in Australia. METHODS: This study was a multi-centre, retrospective, non-comparative case series investigating the clinical outcomes of the PMFF for reconstructing periocular defects and orbital exenterations. RESULTS: This case series describes twenty-seven patients (Female = 15, Male = 12), operated between 1991 to 2019, with a median age of 81 years (range: 45-93 years). Defect locations involved combinations of the medial canthus (16/27, 59.3%), upper eyelids (7/27, 25.9%), lower eyelid (4/27, 14.8%), both upper and lower eyelids (5/27, 18.5%), and orbital (7/27, 25.9%). There were no cases of flap necrosis. Minor post-operative complications were observed in ten patients with the most common being lagophthalmos. Median duration of follow-up was 17months (Range: 2months- 23years). CONCLUSIONS: The PMFF is a versatile reconstructive tool for a range of periocular defects and orbital exenterations with minor post-operative complications.