Total lower eyelid reconstruction with a prefabricated flap using auricular cartilage

Introduction: Various methods have been reported for reconstructing the lower eyelid, but there is still the problem of creating a deep fornix and a supportive eyelid for housing an artificial eye. Case report: A new prefabricated flap was developed using auricular cartilage and the lateral femoral circumflex vessels as vascular pedicles. This was applied in a 64-year-old male patient with total lower eyelid loss following an extended maxillectomy for tumour. Conclusion: The prefabricated flap described here showed more flexibility and a longer vascular pedicle, thus improving the applications for use in patients with limited recipient vessels yet without major sacrifice or deformity in the donor area. (C) 2007 European Association for Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery.