Ultrathin Supratrochlear Artery Cutaneous Branch Flaps for Large Defects Around Eyebrows

Abstract

Background: 

The key point of repairing large defects around eyebrows is to keep the eyebrow undistorted. The limited skin elevates the application difficulty of conventional methods such as direct suture or local flap. Forehead pedicle flaps do well in tension control. However, most of them are too thick for defects because the frontalis muscle must be included. Recently, 1 stable supratrochlear artery cutaneous branch was found, which provides an opportunity to make an ultrathin forehead flap with a good blood supply. This study aims to investigate whether the supratrochlear artery cutaneous branch flap could perform good esthetic reconstruction for defects around the eyebrow.

Methods: 

The authors retrospectively included 15 patients whose defect around the eyebrows was repaired by the supratrochlear artery cutaneous branch flap from June 2017 to June 2020. The authors followed up about their flap color and texture, scar, abnormal sensation, any complication, recurrence, and patient satisfaction for at least 6 months online or face-to-face.

Results: 

All of the flaps survived, without distortion of the eyebrows or inner canthi. Similar flap color, texture, and thickness with the nearby skin were obtained, except 2 patients reported pigmentation. Donor and receptor scars were acceptable. There was no recurrence or other complications. All of the patients were satisfied with the surgery effect.

Conclusions: 

The supratrochlear artery cutaneous branch flap is a valuable alternative method to repair large defects around the eyebrows. It can avoid facial distortion and achieve good esthetic outcomes in single-stage surgery.