Combined Tripier and V-Y Advancement Flaps for Reconstruction of Large Lid-cheek Junction Defects

Summary: Reconstruction of lid-cheek junction defects has a known risk of ectropion. Cervicofacial flaps require significant dissection and can still be prone to ectropion. V-Y advancement flaps have been described as less morbid, but their use is limited to moderate-size defects that do not involve the lid margin. The authors present a technique of combined Tripier and V-Y advancement flaps for reconstruction of large defects of the lid-cheek junction involving the lower eyelid. A retrospective review of patients undergoing the authors’ technique was performed. A facial artery perforator flap was designed in a V-Y fashion and advanced into the cheek. An orbicularis oculi myocutaneous flap (Tripier flap) was elevated from the upper eyelid and rotated into the lower eyelid/upper cheek to meet the superior edge of the V-Y flap. A separate review of patients undergoing cervicofacial flap reconstruction was also performed. Demographics, operative details, and complications were recorded and compared. This technique was applied to five patients with large-size (19.9 ± 5.6 cm2) defects of the lid-cheek. In all cases, healing was achieved without ectropion, hematoma, infection, dehiscence, flap necrosis, or facial nerve injury. Twenty-four patients separately underwent cervicofacial flap reconstruction for defects of comparable size (15.8 ± 10.7 cm2). Two patients developed ectropion, one patient developed a hematoma, and two patients developed an infection. Combined Tripier and V-Y advancement flaps is a useful technique to reconstruct lid-cheek junction defects. This method allows for the reconstruction of large lid-cheek junction defects that involve the lid margin.