Immediate nose reconstruction by forehead flap in a 4-month-old girl with a 20-year follow-up-the oldest technique for the youngest patient.

Abstract

The forehead flap is one of the oldest reconstructive techniques and is still regarded the standard procedure for large nasal defects. Controversy exists regarding reconstructions in infants, but only very few long-term results of this technique in infants have been documented. We report on a 4-month-old girl requiring subtotal nose reconstruction due to necrosis caused by a congenital vascular malformation. An immediate forehead flap and later refinements were performed. The functional and aesthetic result after a period of 20 years is presented. According to this report, a forehead flap can be applied for nasal reconstruction also in very young children with good nasal function, growth and appearance over the long term.