PATIENTS AND METHODS: Free buccal fat pad grafting was carried out in 15 patients in our institution. All were harvested using an intraoral approach. The buccal fat pad graft was used to correct periorbital contour depressions, nasal tip deformities, as a camouflage graft over exposed silicon nasal implants and as a filler in the depression deformity after mass excision.
RESULTS: All 15 patients demonstrated good contour deformity correction without a significant graft resorption up to 3 years of follow-up. There were no donor site complications. The amount used ranged from 1 to 5 cc in volume as a spacer or barrier for the moderate-sized volume defect or depression, even though more than 5 cc of fat graft could be harvested if required.
CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the buccal fat pad graft represents an easy, expedient and exceptional tool for the correction of contour deformities, volume replacement or for aesthetic augmentation.
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CASE PRESENTATION: We report an anterior abdominal wall Ewing sarcoma in a 22-year-old gentleman, arising from the left rectus abdominis muscle. After wide local excision, the reconstruction was achieved with free anterolateral thigh(ALT) fasciocutaneous flap with arteriovenous(AV) loop graft, right medial intercostal artery perforator(MICAP) flap and split-thickness skin graft(SSG).
DISCUSSION: The goals of anterior abdominal wall reconstruction are to restore the integrity of the abdominal wall, prevent visceral eventration, and provide functional support. In view of the size of the defect, a free ALT flap was harvested and anastomosed to the left deep inferior epigastric bundle with the AV loop graft. Although the current trend is skewed towards the use of biologic mesh, an on-lay prolene mesh was used due to its affordable cost and that the biologic mesh was not available in Malaysia. The options of further reconstruction after the patient developed marginal flap necrosis and surgical site infection were also discussed. Post-operation 3 months, there was denser hair growth on the ALT flap. This finding has never been reported before and warrants further studies.
CONCLUSION: The use of combination of various technique, namely free ALT fasciocutaneous flap with AV loop graft, right MICAP flap and SSG in reconstruction ensures a satisfactory functional and aesthetic outcome in the upper anterior abdominal wall reconstruction.