Comparative evaluation of postoperative functional and esthetic outcomes for lip reconstruction with Fujimori gate flap versus Abbe-Estlander flap in patients being operated for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Lip carcinomas account for 23.6% to 30% of tumors affecting the oral cavity. Lip reconstruction aims to achieve a competent oral sphincter with a good cosmetic appearance while avoiding microstomia. There are various techniques for lip reconstruction like Fujimori gate flap, Abbe-Estlander Flap, Gillies fan flap, Nasolabial flap, Karapandzic flap, bilateral advancement flap, perialar crescentic advancement flap, Bernard-Burow flap, and free flap.

Aims and objectives: To compare the Fujimori gate flap and Abbe-Estlander flap in terms of functional and esthetic outcomes when used for reconstruction of the lip.

Materials and method: Ten patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma requiring resection and reconstruction of lip were included in the study. Functionally, maximal interincisal opening, lip competence, speech intelligibility and esthetically, scar, symmetry of lip during mouth opening, and symmetry of lip at rest were evaluated at the end of 1 week and 1 month.

Results: On evaluation of functional and esthetic parameters, the Fujimori gate flap provides superior results in terms of mouth opening, speech intelligibility, and symmetry of lip at rest. However, results were comparable in both groups in terms of lip competence, scar, and symmetry of lip during mouth opening.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the Fujimori gate flap provides superior results with respect to function and esthetics when used for the reconstruction of lower lip defects with minimal or less complications.