Background: Face is the center of attention during communication and the expression of emotion. Facial defects resulting from trauma and the excision of skin malignancies are relatively common. How this defect is treated is determined by a variety of factors including the location, size and the underlying cause of the defect, the projected functional morbidity, the medical history of the patient, and feasibility of surgery. Aim was to study various local flaps using for coverage of defect, outcomes and complications.Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Our study shows result of 92 patients during January 2016 to December 2019 who had facial defects were taken up for the study. Reconstructive options were selected depending on defect size, location. Follow-up of patients ranged from 6 months to 1 year.Results: The most common malignant tumors of the face are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Local flap is always preferable than skin grafts as it produces a superior match in color and texture with the additional advantage of producing a vascularized soft tissue cover for skeleton and resistant to contractures.Conclusions: In our study, variety of local flaps were used to cover the facial defects of the 92 patients with minimal post-operative complications.
Reconstruction of facial defects with local flaps – a training model for medical students?
