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5.6: Nasolabial Flaps for Oral Cavity Reconstruction

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    OPEN ACCESS ATLAS OF OTOLARYNGOLOGY, HEAD & NECK OPERATIVE SURGERY

    NASOLABIAL FLAP FOR ORAL CAVITY RECONSTRUCTION

    Harry Wright, Scott Stephan, James Netterville

    1.png

    Figure 1: Relationship of the facial artery to the design of the nasolabial flap

    Designed as a true myocutaneous flap pedicled on the facial artery, the nasolabial flap is a robust and versatile flap that is well suited to single-stage reconstruction of oral cavity defects or to staged reconstructions of facial defects (Figure 1). This chapter will focus on oral cavity reconstruction. The redundant skin extending from the medial canthus of the eye to the inferior margin of the mandible (nasolabial sulcus and nasofacial groove) defines the donor site for the nasolabial flap. This area is relatively hairless except for the lower cheek in males, an important consideration in oral cavity reconstruction. The flap itself is comprised of skin, subcutaneous tissue and the underlying musculature.

    Surgical Anatomy

    Blood Supply

    2.png

    Figure 2: The facial artery displayed in a cadaver dissection, showing the more common medial course

    3.png

    Figure 3: Cadaver dissection showing a less common lateral course of the artery

    The subdermal plexus is supplied by feeder vessels from the branches of the facial artery and provides the blood supply to the nasolabial muscle and skin. This allows for high viability and permits bold thinning and shaping. The facial artery has four main branches in the face: the inferior labial artery, superior labial artery, alar artery and lateral nasal artery, and terminates as the angular artery. In a majority of dissections, the facial artery takes a medial course as shown in Figures 1 & 2, rather than a lateral course as shown in Figure 3 (unpublished data). The artery resides in the dense fibrous tissue at the oral commissure and continues along the superior border of the upper lip to the nasal ala. It then continues in a medial course along the nasofacial groove toward the medial canthus of the eye. Arterial perforators are especially concentrated in the inferior two-thirds of the nasolabial groove.

    When raising a laterally-pedicled flap, as is often the case in single-stage oral cavity defect reconstructions, incorporation of the lower one-third of the nasolabial groove is essential to ensure a robust vascular musculocutaneous base.

    Muscle

    The relevant musculature is best understood as it relates to the facial artery. The facial artery is deep to the platysma, risorius, zygomaticus major and minor, levator labii superioris, and levator labii superioris alaeque nasi muscles. The artery is superficial to the mandible, buccinators muscle, and levator anguli oris muscle. The position of the artery deep to the majority of facial mimetic muscles suggests that the nasolabial flap may incurporate this muscle layer and be developed as a true musculocutaneous flap.

    Surgical Technique

    Flap design

    4.png

    Figure 4: Approximate dimensions of the nasolabial flap

    5.png

    Figure 5: Illustration demonstrating the the laterally based pedicle

    A fusiform flap is marked ensuring that the medial border of the flap is on the nasofacial groove (Figures 1, 4, 5). A pencil Doppler probe may be useful to locate and delineate the course of the artery. Average flap dimensions are 2.5 cm in width and 6 cm in length. The width may be closer to 5 cm when the facial skin is very redundant. The superior border of the flap is inferior to the medial canthus along the nasofacial junction. Placement of the inferior border depends on the nature of the defect. For floor of mouth reconstruction, the inferior border of the flap should be at the superior border of the mandible; reconstruction of palatal defects, however, requires the inferior border to be approximately at the level of the oral commissure.

    Flap harvest

    The skin incision is carried through the dermis and subcutaneous fat to the level of the underlying musculature. As shown in the anatomic dissections above and below, the artery lies in a plane deep to the facial mimetic musculature and in a medial position along the nasofacial groove. The flap is elevated in a superior-to-inferior fashion in a plane deep to the facial musculature, artery and vein, with the artery identified carefully by blunt dissection. The parotid duct is identified and preserved. The superior labial artery may require ligation.

    Inset

    6.png

    Figure 6: The flap is narrowly pedicled on the facial artery, and then is tunneled via the buccal space into the oral cavity

    Thus a musculocutaneous flap is developed and pedicled on the facial artery (Figures 5, 6, Case #6). The flap is then tunneled through the buccal space to repair the intraoral defect, as shown in Figure 6 and in several cases below. If single-stage reconstruction is the goal, the tunneled segment of the flap must be de-epithelialized. Staged reconstruction with delayed division of the pedicle may be performed, with the delay necessary to ensure adequate neovascularization.

    Donor site closure

    The donor site is irrigated prior to layered closure with 4‐0 Vicryl providing deep dermal closure and 5-0 fast absorbing catgut sutures to approximate the skin edges. The closure should advance the lateral skin flap in a superior and medial direction to avoid distortion of the lower eyelid.

    Clinical Applications & Selected Cases

    A nasolabial flap is suited to reconstructing small-to-medium oral cavity defects including, but not limited to alveolus (Case #1), floor of mouth (Cases #2, #3), buccal cavity (Case #4) and palate (Cases #5, #6).

    Case #1: Superior alveolus reconstruction

    7.png

    Figure 7: Tumor of superior alveolus

    8.png

    Figure 8: Alveolectomy defect

    This superior alveolus tumor was resected by superior alveolectomy. A lip-split approach was utilized for resection and to facilitate the reconstruction (Figures 7, 8).

    9.png

    Figure 9: Nasolabial flap being designed and raised

    10.png

    Figure 10: Flap turned in to reconstruct the defect

    11.png

    Figure 11: Nasolabial flap inset into the defect and donor site and lip-split closed

    A nasolabial flap was designed, raised and turned in to reconstruct the defect (Figures 9-11).

    12.png

    Figure 12: Wound closure and final result

    Figure 12 illustrates a Penrose drain left in a dependent portion of the donor site; and a postoperative image showing the donor site and accessory incisions to be well healed.

    Case #2: Mouth floor reconstruction

    13.png

    Figure 13: Defect following resection

    14.png

    Figure 14: Outline of flap

    15.png

    Figure 15: Facial artery is bluntly dissected

    16.png

    Figure 16: Flap inset into floor of mouth

    This floor of mouth cancer resection resulted in an alveolar ridge, gingiva, and floor of mouth defect; the inferior border of the defect is at the level of the superior border of the mandible (Figure 13). The defect was reconstructed with a nasolabial flap (Figures 14-16).

    Though the flap is hairless in the image shown, the surgeon must anticipate the implications of transferring hair‐bearing skin intraorally.

    Case #3: Mouth floor reconstruction

    17.png

    Figure 17: The robust nasolabial flap minimizes the risk of ankyloglossia

    18.png

    Figure 18: Early postoperative image shows aesthetically acceptable appearance of donor site

    19.png

    Figure 19: Later image shows a well-healed floor of mouth reconstruction

    20.png

    Figure 20: Though the right upper lip is paralyzed, the concomitant lip lift provided by the harvest of nasolabial donor skin aids with symmetry at rest

    Figures 17-20 illustrate the postoperative results of reconstruction of an anterior floor of mouth defect crossing the midline.

    Case #4: Buccal cavity reconstruction

    21.png

    Figure 21: Buccal defect

    22.png

    Figure 22: Flap inset into buccal defect

    23.png

    Figure 23: Healed flap in buccal defect

    24.png

    Figure 24: Final cosmetic result

    The robust blood supply to the nasolabial flap permits shaping of the flap to precisely fill the defect (Figures 21-24).

    Case #5: Palate reconstruction (postoperative)

    25.png

    Figure 25: Healed palatal defect

    Figure 25 demonstrates a healed palatal reconstruction, with an implant visible for a dental prosthesis.

    26.png

    Figure 26: Excellent camouflage of scar and facial symmetry at rest

    27.png

    Figure 27: Asymmetry with smiling

    Reconstruction of palatal defects requires that the inferior border of the incision be approximately at the level of the oral commissure. Note the excellent camouflaging of the scar and the facial symmetry at rest (Figure 26). When smiling the patient demonstrates the expected paralysis of the ipsilateral upper lip which is generally well-tolerated (Figure 27); this adverse outcome is further discussed below.

    Case 6: Bilateral nasolabial flaps

    28.png

    Figure 28: Defect of hard palate, alveolus and gingivobuccal sulcus

    29.png

    Figure 29: Bilateral nasolabial flaps

    30.png

    Figure 30: Angular artery visible

    31.png

    Figure 31: Flap being inset in a side-by-side configuration

    This patient has a large defect of the hard palate, alveolus and gingivobuccal sulcus (Figure 28). Bilateral nasolabial flaps were raised (Figure 29). In Figure 30 the terminal branch of the facial artery i.e. the angular artery, is demonstrated.

    32.png

    Figure 32: Healed palatal reconstruction

    33.png

    Figure 33: Healed facial scars

    Postoperative images show well-healed donor sites and intact and symmetric elevation of the corners of the mouth i.e. intact cranial nerve VII (Figures 32, 33).

    Adverse Outcomes

    Upper lip weakness

    Upper lip weakness may result if the terminal buccal branches of the facial nerve supplying lip elevators are lysed or if the principle lip elevators (zygomaticus major/minor, levator labii alique nasi, levator anguli oris) are completely divided. Muscle disruption may occur when extensive mobilization and rotation of the flap is required.

    A unilateral nasolabial flap typically does not result in any appreciable ipsilateral lip weakness. As a correlation, deinnervated Abbe flap reconstruction of the upper lip has been shown on electromyography (1 and 5 years post-op) to regain 80 and 100% reinnervation of the transposed muscle segment.1 However, extensive disruption of innervation and mimetic muscle integrity during harvesting of bilateral nasolabial flaps may result in clinically appreciable weakness of the upper lip. Though permanent, it is usually well tolerated. As shown in the selected cases above, the resulting upper lip weakness is mitigated by the mild lip lift provided by closure of the donor site.

    Oral competence

    Bilateral upper lip weakness and numbness could significantly impair oral competence, especially lip-pursing, and must be considered if bilateral nasolabial flaps are planned. Special care should be taken to avoid disruption of the distal facial nerve branches in such cases.

    Summary

    Nasolabial flap reconstruction of intraoral defects is a well-recognized technique. Because the flap is pedicled on the facial artery, single-stage closure with a smaller pedicle may be achieved if the proximal portion of the flap is de-epithelialized. A robust blood supply helps to ensure flap viability and prevents flap breakdown and fistula formation even in adverse conditions of excess tension or mild compression of the transbuccal pedicle. The bulk provided by the facial musculature helps to fill larger defects. It does not impair speech and causes only minimal donor site morbidity. The flap is not overly time-consuming or technically difficult to master; however, knowledge of the relevant anatomy is essential.

    References

    Burget G, Menick F. Aesthetic restoration of one-half of the upper lip. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1986;78(5):583–93

    Acknowledgements

    • Illustrations by Paul Gross
    • Cadaver dissections by David Haynes, MD FACS

    Authors

    Harry V. Wright MD, MS
    Fellow
    Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
    Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery
    University of South Florida, USA
    dr.hvwright@gmail.com

    Scott Stephan MD
    Assistant Professor
    Facial and Plastic Surgery
    Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center
    Nashville, TE, USA
    stephan@vanderbilt.edu

    James L. Netterville MD
    Director of Head and Neck Surgery
    Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center
    Nashville, TE, USA
    james.netterville@vanderbilt.edu

    Editor

    Johan Fagan MBChB, FCS(ORL), MMed
    Professor and Chairman
    Division of Otolaryngology
    University of Cape Town
    Cape Town, South Africa
    johannes.fagan@uct.ac.za

    This page titled 5.6: Nasolabial Flaps for Oral Cavity Reconstruction is shared under a CC BY-NC 3.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Open Access Atlas of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Operative Surgery.