Designing a Trifoliate Flap for Isolated Congenital Alar Rim Defect in Pediatric Patients

Abstract

Isolated congenital alar rim defects are extremely rare, and there has been no standard technique for the reconstruction of remarkable aesthetic deformity. Herein, we introduce a trifoliate flap for the correction of isolated congenital alar rim defects in pediatric patients. Fifteen cases undergoing nasal alar sulcus rotation flap surgery were analyzed retrospectively. This rotation flap including 3 triangles was a modified flap based on prior studies. Clinical medical notes and photographs were reviewed. Patients’ (or their parents) reported satisfactions with aesthetic outcome were also evaluated during the post-operative follow-up period. In all patients, the isolated congenital alar rim defects were successfully reconstructed. The rotation flap survived and the wound healed primarily. The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 22 months (average 11 months). There were no incidents of flap loss, step-off deformities, nasal obstruction, or alar retraction. At follow-up of post-operative 3 months, pale red scars were observed in the operative area in few patients (2/15). However, these scars gradually became invisible at post-operative 6 months. All patients (or their parents) were satisfied with the aesthetic outcome of this operation. This newly designed trifoliate flap can be an alternative method for the reconstruction of isolated congenital alar rim defects in pediatric patients. The scars of this procedure can be unobvious with fine surgical suture.

Alar Rim Triangular Flap for Congenital Nasal Cleft Repair in Pediatric Patients

“…Congenital nasal cleft is not common and is difficult for reconstruction. We previously reported a trifoliate flap for isolated congenital alar rim defect, and obtain satisfying outcomes 8 . With previous experience in treating alar rim defect, we created a modified alar rim triangular flap to treat isolated nasal cleft in Asian pediatric patients.…”

“…We previously reported a trifoliate flap for isolated congenital alar rim defect, and obtain satisfying outcomes. 8 With previous experience in treating alar rim defect, we created a modified alar rim triangular flap to treat isolated nasal cleft in Asian pediatric patients. This technique can be used to correct the nasal cleft in a single stage and needs no cartilage grafting.…”