Reconstruction of giant full-thickness lower eyelid defects using a combination of palmaris longus tendon with superiorly based nasolabial skin flap and palatal mucosal graft

Abstract

Reconstruction of a full-thickness lower eyelid defect is challenging. We aim to use palmaris longus tendon to improve clinical outcomes in eyelid reconstruction. We generated a novel “three-layer structure” tissue by combination of palmaris longus tendon with superiorly-based nasolabial skin flap and palatal mucosal graft and applied in eyelid reconstruction surgery in 34 patients with significant full-thickness lower eyelid defects. The satisfaction scores were assessed in each patient to evaluate their cosmetic and functional outcomes in follow-up visits. The mean follow-up period was 15 months (range, 6-24 months). Satisfactory results were obtained in 100% patients. No patients reported deformities, obvious scars at the donor sites, or abnormalities of hand function on the surgical side. Our results demonstrated that the three-layer structure incorporating palmaris longus tendon for the reconstruction of giant full-thickness defects in lower eyelid is an effective procedure with satisfactory long-term results.

Keywords:

• Lower lid defect
• superiorly based nasolabial flap
• palatal mucosal graft
• palmaris longus tendon

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the first hospital of Jilin University. Written informed consent to participate was obtained from the patient described in this article.

Consent for publication

Consent for publication was obtained from the patient described in this article.

Disclosure statement

All the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Data availability statement

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants obtained from the Jilin Provincial Research Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology Projects [Grant No. 20190201152JC]. Hospital Youth Foundation of the 1st Hospital of Jilin University [Grant No. JDYY10 2019018]. Foundation of Jilin Provincial Department of Finance [Grant No. JLSCZD 2019-015].