Immediate lip reconstruction with one-sided Karapandzic flap.

Abstract

Abstract

Introduction: the Karapandzic flap, first described in 1974, is an axial musculocutaneous flap based on the upper or lower labial arteries. It is designed around the nasolabial folds between the upper lip, lower lip, and cheek.(1)

This reconstructive option is reliable for lower lip defects more significant than thirty five percent of tissue loss in an oncologic or traumatic context; the latter becomes relevant in our environment due to the prevalence of dog bites in the facial region. It seeks to demonstrate that the flap performed unilaterally is useful, safe and reproducible in traumatic injuries of the lower lip

Clinical case: male forty five years old with dog bite wound in the lower lip. He presented skin, subcutaneous cellular tissue, muscle, and mucosa involvement with a tissue loss of seventy percent of the lower lip.

Discussion: the main objective of the flap is the functional reconstruction of the lower lip, which implies a therapeutic challenge in the traumatic context due to a dog bite since it is necessary to preserve the lip competence and achieve excellent aesthetic quality, also considering the high risk of infection. Furthermore, it can be used immediately (less than twenty four hours of injury) to provide secure coverage, avoiding an exposed wound susceptible to infection.

Conclussions: the unilateral Karapandzic flap immediate reconstruction technique for traumatic defects of the lower lip  is a good option, as was demonstrated in this case, since it provides coverage that avoids the risk of infection due to the traumatic etiology of the defect, obtaining aesthetic and functional results.