[The lateral forehead flap in the management of defects of the exterior aspect of the nose].

Abstract

The closure of skin defects after tumour exstirpation in the external nose can be carried out by means of median forehead flaps. The classical technique requires a vertical forehead incision corresponding to the longitudial axis of the vasculo-muscular pedicle of the donor site. This vertical scar will subsequently not always yield an optimum aesthetic result. We prefer a modification of this method: The pedicle of the lateral forehead flap is developed stepwise through horizontal incisions which are placed in skin creases of the forehead. The defect of the donor site is closed with a rotation flap. The advantage of this procedure is an optimum aesthetic long-term result.