Excellent Closure of Postauricular Defect Using Type-1 Keystone Perforator Island Flap: An Alternative Facial Reconstruction Technique

Abstract

The use of local flaps is a common and effective method for reconstructing various post-surgical defects. Some advantages of local flaps compared to other methods such as skin grafts are the relatively high success rate and lower complication rates such as infections and wound dehiscence. There are various methods of flaps available and choosing the proper method is based on various factors such as the size of the defect, anatomical location of the defect, and operator capabilities. Therefore, an effective but simple local flap method with a high success rate is needed especially when dealing with defects located on prominent cosmetic areas such as the face. We report the successful use of the keystone perforator island flap for closure of a facial defect caused by basal cell carcinoma removal in a 76-year-old female patient. Although not commonly used for facial reconstruction, this paper reports successful use of this relatively simple and effective method prompting the potential for increased usage in treating small-moderate sized defects on the face.