OBJECTIVETo introduce the application of slender narrow pedicle flap in repairing facial tissue defects after skin carcinoma excision, and investigate its survival mechanism.

METHODSThe slender narrow pedicle iateral maxillocevical flap was designed with its pedicle including skin fascia or only the fascia located in front of auricle or behind of it, repaired 26 cases of facial defects, including 5 temporal skin basal cell carcinoma, 6 skin squamous cell carcinoma, and 1 facial skin malignant melanoma, 8 skin basal cell carcinoma, 5 skin squamous cell carcinoma, 1 skin mucinous carcinoma. In 26 cases, 24 cases their pedicles in front of the auricle, 2 cases behind of the auricle; 4 cases their pedicles only including fascia. The size of the flaps ranged from 3.0 cm x 2.5 cm to 10.0 cm x 8.0 cm. The width and length of the pedicle ranged 1.0-1.5 cm and 2-6 cm.

RESULTS26 cases of the slender narrow pedicle flaps all survived and the results were satisfactory except 5 cases of distal congestion, then gradual recovery.

CONCLUSIONSThis slender narrow flap don't include any major blood vessel, without dissecting the blood vessels in operating. Due to its slender pedicle, the whole flap looks like "pingpang bat", the flap rotation is easy and its coverage area is very large, without cat ears. The postoperative appearance (color, texture, cosmetic aspect) is satisfactory. This slender narrow flap is an extraordinary new flap design and is ideal for the repair of the facial tissue defect after skin carcinoma excision.