gms | German Medical Science

The lip has complex functions including expression of feelings and smiling, oral sphincter function, articulation, and serving as the symbol of aesthetic beauty. Complete competence, maximum oral opening, mobility, sensation, and maximum aesthetic results should be the goals of the reconstruction undertaken [1].

There is a general agreement that defects of one third or less of the lips are repaired by primary closure with variations of incisions with excellent functional and cosmetic outcome [2], [3]. For larger lip defects, lip reconstruction gets more complicated and a search for the ideal method of reconstruction has brought forth a large number of different methods and techniques of which each has its own advantages and disadvantages [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9]. More than 200 different methods of lip reconstruction techniques, varying from primary closure to free-flap transfer, have been described since the mid-19^th century. The dimensions and the localization of the defect play important roles in the selection of the type of reconstruction.

To assess the functional and aesthetic outcome of different methods of reconstruction of full thickness lip defects we have undertaken this analysis.

This prospective analysis was conducted in the plastic surgery department of a tertiary care center from November 2017 to December 2019 after getting clearance from the institutional ethical committee.

Consenting patients of all age groups and both sexes with full thickness lip defect of any size with acquired etiology were included in this. The reconstruction of the lip was done according to the standard operative technique.

Functional assessment was done by assessing oral competence, lip mobility, and sensations. Oral competence was assessed as incompetence, sialorrhea at rest, sialorrhea formed with fluid intake and complete competence. Labial mobility was assessed as symmetric/asymmetric by observing pouting, smiling and mouth opening movements. Sensory assessment included the assessment of all sensations including two-point discrimination.

Aesthetic assessment was done by examining lip appearance at rest (symmetrical/asymmetrical), size of the lip in a horizontal and vertical direction [status of oral stoma (severe microstomia, moderate microstomia, and normal stoma)], commissure (acute/obtuse), scar aesthetics in nasolabial/mentolabial crease and size of new vermilion to available old residual vermilion.

Microstomia was assessed subjectively and objectively as shown in Table 1 [Tab. 1].

Two plastic surgeons evaluated the clinical photographs and gave their comment on the aesthetic outcome. The comments were included in final outcome, patients’ comments were also taken into consideration.

21 patients were operated: 17 males and 4 females with a mean age of 43.29 years and 47.5 years, respectively. Out of the 21 patients 17 patients i.e. 80% of the patients had malignancy, 3 patients i.e. 14.28% had trauma, and one patient i.e. 4.7% had chronic granulomatous disease (TB). Out of the 21 patients, 5 patients had a defect size up to 1/3, 13 patients had a defect size of 1/3 to 2/3 and 3 patients had a defect size >2/3. Out of the 21 patients, 5 patients had primary closure (Figure 1 [Fig. 1]), 4 patients Estlander flap (Figure 2 [Fig. 2]), 3 patients lip advancement and Karapandzic flap (Figure 3 [Fig. 3]), 4 patients nasolabial flap (Figure 4 [Fig. 4]) and 5 patients free radial artery forearm flap (Figure 5 [Fig. 5]).

Table 2 [Tab. 2], Table 3 [Tab. 3] and Table 4 [Tab. 4] show the distribution of the procedures according to extent of lip defect, defect location, and defect size. Nasolabial flap and FRAFF (free radial artery forearm flap) were chosen for two cases in the category of defect size up to 1/3 as there was a buccal mucosal defect along with the lip defect.

Table 5 [Tab. 5] shows the functional and aesthetic outcome of the different procedures.

All local flap patients had a sensory recovery up to 6-month follow-up. One FRAFF patient had sensory recovery with two-point discrimination at 10 mm at 20 months of follow-up. The rest of the patients with no sensory recovery were lost to follow-up after or within 6 months. Incompetence in FRAFF and nasolabial flap may be attributed to commissural defect reconstruction.

One patient with FRAFF used for reconstruction of commissure with buccal mucosa had a remaining partial lip necrosis which was managed by debridement and primary closure and one patient with bilateral nasolabial flap had a postoperative surgical site infection and partial flap loss which was managed conservatively. For the rest of the patients there were no significant complications.

All patients except one with lip advancement and split-thickness skin graft (STSG) were satisfied with the reconstruction procedure and its outcome.

During lip reconstruction, several outcomes are targeted for. The functionality should be considered first. Without oral competence an esthetically nice reconstruction is bothersome. Oral competence depends on orbicularis oris, with most of its fibers aligned horizontally. Preserving the nerves is also essential because lips with sensitivity are considered a better result than those where sensitivity is not preserved. The best results are obtained by reforming the sphincter and preserving sensitivity [10].

Primary closure of lip defect is associated with microstomia which may be either objective (small defect) or subjective (large defect) but has the advantage of a more anatomical closure with no donor site morbidity, better sensation preservation, competence, and no extra-scarring other than surgical incisions. Color and tissue match is good with the advantage of symmetry preserved in central defect. However, lateral and commissural lesion have problem of asymmetry. According to Soliman et al. [11] full thickness lip defects with a size up to 50% of the lip can be closed primarily with better functional and aesthetic outcome and the use of a local flap in such cases can be avoided. This is especially true for elderly patients.

Lip advancement and Estlander flap are other good techniques for small to medium sized full thickness lip defects with good competence, better vermilion match, near anatomical closure, less scarring, acceptable stoma size, and minimal or no donor site morbidity. However, blunting or rounding of commissure that will need future commissuroplasty, hypoesthesia, delayed return of sensation, and asymmetry of the lip are notable drawbacks of Estlander flap. Bektas et al. [12] did transverse lip advancement flap in 10 patients and concluded good functional and aesthetic outcome in all patients. Blunting of commissure, microstomia, and prolonged denervation (6–18 months) are the main shortcomings of Estlander flap [13]. Husein-ElAhmed et al. [14] highlighted that Estlander flap is associated with better camouflage in terms of aesthesis and scar visibility and good sensory recovery in 3 months. Blunting of commissure mostly improved to its normal counterpart level and commissuroplasty is usually not required [13].

Karapandzic flap is a viable option for medium to large sized full thickness defects, especially in those patients with good skin laxity and if other flaps are not an option. It provides single stage reconstruction with good oral competence and normal sensation but microstomia and lip asymmetry are notable. According to Dadhich et al. [15], Ebrahim et al. [16], and Coppit et al. [17] it is a single stage flap which is mostly used for the lower lip but can be used for the upper lip. It has good sensation and oral competence but is associated with microstomia which is problematic in patients with denture and asymmetry of the lip and blunting of commissure. This flap also needs meticulous surgical technique for dissection of neurovascular bundle and orbicularis oris near commissure.

Nasolabial flap can be used for large full thickness lip defects in patients where microstomia cannot be tolerated and for commissural defects with buccal mucosal lesion which need cover after excision. However, oral incompetence occurs in commissural defects which may improve over time. Vermilion mismatch is appreciable and the flap may need thinning to match the remaining lip tissue bulk. Central defect and single lip lateral defect usually don’t have problem of incompetence. With this flap, there is prolonged hypoesthesia. Donor site scar is better camouflaged but standing cutaneous deformity can occur at donor site that may improve over time or may need correction. This flap can be used with other variation like Fujimori Gate flap [18], islanded nasolabial flap, bilateral nasolabial flap with myomucosal advancement [19], for complete lip loss.

Free flaps like free radial artery forearm flap with or with or without palmaris longus sling are reserved for large full thickness defects like total lip defect, lip defect with buccal mucosal defect and where local tissue is not available for reconstruction and where microstomia cannot be tolerated. Lip defect where commissure is involved is associated with oral incompetence. However, central and whole lip defect where PL sling was incorporated had good oral competence. The flap is bulky and vermilion mismatch is there along with asymmetry in labial mobility. However, microstomia is not a problem with adequately sized flap. There is always prolonged hypoesthesia and duration of return of sensation depends upon whether sensory nerve coaptation is done or not. One of our patients had static two-point discrimination at 10 mm after 2 years in whom sensory nerve coaptation was not done. Bulky flaps need staged thinning and correction to match vermilion thickness. Commissural defects need future commissuroplasty. donor site needs skin grafting if primary closure cannot be done. Ebrahimi et al. [20] reviewed the literature and reported that free flap is a good option for full thickness whole lip defect reconstruction when local tissue is unavailable but its functional and aesthetic outcomes are limited due to difference in donor tissue color, elasticity and texture and bulk. They also reported that reconstruction with FRAFF has limitation like numbness, drooling of saliva and competence. They also reported that FRAFF with palmaris longus sling reconstruction is a dynamic and non-sensory reconstruction. Özdemir et al. [21] performed sensate FRAFF with PL sling free mucosal graft for vermilion reconstruction in 17 patients and demonstrated that all patients had good oral competence and started to regain sensation 4 to 6 months after surgery and had acceptable aesthetic results.

Functional and aesthetic outcome are good with local lip flap reconstruction. These are even better for smaller defects and central lip defects. Sensory recovery is good and almost complete with local lip flaps over a period of time and is better compared to regional and distant flaps. Commissural defects treated with lip flaps have good oral competence. Microstomia occurs after local lip flap reconstruction. However most patients are not bothered if it is not severe and it can be corrected by commissuroplasty. Posttraumatic defects and defects where post-procedure radiotherapy is not required can be reconstructed with local flaps. However, in cases where postoperative radiotherapy may be required, it is better to avoid microstomia by adding tissue in the form of regional or distant (free) flap during reconstruction, as microstomia may be worsened post radiotherapy. Finally, defect size, defect location, availability of local tissue, patients’ comorbid condition, need for postoperative radiotherapy, and patient’s informed consent and preference decide on the choice of the reconstruction procedure.

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee. Informed consent for inclusion in the study and use of patients' photographs was obtained.