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A number of techniques have been described to reconstruct lower lip defects. A microsurgical total lower lip reconstruction was performed in a 48-year-old female patient affected by a squamous cell carcinoma of the lower lip. The patient underwent a wide lower lip resection and an immediate aesthetic and functional lower lip reconstruction. The lower lip was reconstructed with a composite radial forearm palmaris longus flap. The subcutaneous layer of the residual upper lip was undermined and palmaris longus tendon was transfixed to the paranasal portion of the orbicularis oris muscle, giving to the flap a good aesthetic “hammock” effect and achieving a nearly impairment free function. The use of a forearm free flap for lower lip reconstruction has previously been described, with poor functional results. We have described a different technique to inset and fix the flap using palmaris longus tendon: the suspension vector of the flap and the preservation of the residual orbicularis oris fibers seem to be of great importance to achieve a satisfactory functional recovery. We propose that the radial forearm free flap comprising palmaris longus tendon, inset and fixed with the described technique, may be a good alternative among the surgical options for full-thickness lower lip defects in order to achieve a satisfactory aesthetic and functional reconstruction.

Current microsurgical techniques are used in single stage repair of distal lower limb defects. The previously popular cutaneous and fasciocutaneous flaps have been practically shelved. However, in selected cases, the vessels of a lower limb can still be employed to vascularize a harvested flap for the repair of a contralateral defect. In cases where the vessels of a traumatized leg are severely damaged or jeopardized, vascular components of the opposite limb can be exploited to provide the blood supply for the flap chosen to cover the defect. There are times when trauma to both legs may require a single large flap (latissimus dorsi) which if properly vascularized can bridge a bilateral defect. This could bring about the revival of the cross-leg flaps. Four cases are reported: in one, the flap was vascularized from a healthy limb to cover a contralateral exposed fracture and an avulsed heel. In three other cases, the latissimus dorsi was utilized to fill large post-traumatic bilateral defects at the distal lower limb level. In these cases the limb with the best vascular system was chosen for flap anastomoses and fixation was then applied.