The neurotised estlander flap for lip reconstruction

The Estlander flap is an axial-pattern, lip-switch technique used to reconstruct lip defects that include the oral commissure. We describe a neurotised modification that may confer functional advantages by preserving sensation and helping to maintain oral competence. This is achieved by preservation of the mental nerve branches to the lip and facial nerve branches to the orbicularis oris muscle in the flap. (c) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)