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Original Article Plastic and Aesthetic Research

The forehead flap: a valuable option in

resource depleted environment

Rowland Agbara , Benjamin Fomete , Athanasius Chukwudi Obiadazie , Kelvin Uchenna
2
2
1
Omeje , Olushola Ibiyinka Amole 3
3
1 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos 930001,
Nigeria.
2 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika-Zaria 810222, Nigeria.
3 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Aminu Kano University Teaching Hospital, Kano
700233, Nigeria.
Correspondence Author: Dr. Rowland Agbara, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Dental and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Jos
University Teaching Hospital, Jos 930001, Nigeria. E-mail: row_prof@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
Aim: Reconstruction of orofacial soft tissue defect is often challenging and this is more difficult in
resource challenged environment. This retrospective study highlights our experience with the use of
forehead flap to overcome some of the challenges of orofacial reconstruction in a resource depleted
environment. Methods: A 23-year retrospective analysis of all patients who had orofacial defect
reconstruction using forehead flap in our department was undertaken. Information was sourced from
patient’s case notes and operating theatre records. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for
Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) and Microsoft Excel 2007 (Microsoft,
Redmond, WA, USA). Results: A total of 43 patients were managed within the period reviewed and
consisted of 31 (72.1%) males and 12 (27.9%) females. Trauma 24 (55.8%) accounted for most defect
and the lip was the commonest site of defect. Complete forehead flap was used in 31 (72.1%) of cases
and when timing of defect repair is considered, delayed reconstruction was the preferred method.
Postoperative complications was observed in 8 (18.6%) patients and consisted of failed flap in 2 (25.0%)
patients, tumor recurrence in reconstructed site in 2 (25.0%) patients and tumor occurrence in forehead
flap donor site in 1 (12.5%) patient. Conclusion: The forehead flap remains a reliable option in orofacial
soft tissue defect reconstruction. It is easy to raise and can provide coverage for wide defects as far as
the paramandibular and submandibular regions. Moreover, it does not require patient repositioning.

Key words:
Orofacial; soft tissue defect; forehead flap; delayed reconstruction

INTRODUCTION aesthetics such that alterations in facial appearance may cause
severe disability, psychological morbidity, and huge economic
Tissues in the orofacial region contribute significantly to loss to the victim(s). Defects in the orofacial region may involve
[3]
the functional, aesthetic and psychological wellbeing of an
individual. Similarly, individuals place a high value on facial This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons
[1,2]
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License, which allows others to remix,
Access this article online tweak and build upon the work non-commercially, as long as the author is credited
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www.parjournal.net For reprints contact: service@oaepublish.com
How to cite this article: Agbara R, Fomete B, Obiadazie AC, Omeje
DOI: KU, Amole OI. The forehead flap: a valuable option in resource depleted
10.20517/2347-9264.2015.123 environment. Plast Aesthet Res 2016;3:115-20.
Received: 23-11-2015; Accepted: 08-04-2016
© 2016 Plastic and Aesthetic Research | Published by OAE Publishing Inc. 115