Objective: To evaluate the reconstructive methods of outcome of midface defects following the removal of malignant neoplasms.
Methods: Eighty cases(54 males, and 26 females, age ranging from 23 - 79, with a median age of 53.5 years), of midface malignant tumors from 1997 - 2006 in Beijing Tongren Hospital were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical data including the type of midface region defects, reconstructive methods and the therapeutic outcome were analyzed. Of the 80 patients, 6 cases were with type I (external nasal) defect, 56 with type II (maxillary) defect, 14 with type III (naso-facio-maxillary) defect and 4 with type IV (maxillary defect combined with naso-facio-orbital cutaneous deficiency).
Results: The defects after the removal of malignant tumors were repaired with pedicle tissue flaps in 31 cases and free tissue flaps in 49 cases, respectively, one-stage reconstruction accounting for 73 cases (91.2%). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed total 3-year and 5-year survival rates were 63.8% and 40.6%, respectively.
Conclusions: One-stage reconstruction is a satisfactory method for the repair of midface defect after the removal of malignant tumor, with good clinical outcome. Selection of repair methods should be based on defect types.