Bridge Flaps: A Hybrid Family of Bipedicled Flaps for the Forehead, Temple, and Scalp: Experience With 103 Cases

摘要

BACKGROUND Medium-sized defects of the scalp, temple, and forehead can be challenging to reconstruct in an aesthetic fashion. The author proposes the use of a hybrid flap that is at times bipedicled, perforator, and/or axially supplied. OBJECTIVE To describe the author's experience with the bridge flap and its various subtypes. METHODS An IRB-approved retrospective database review of all bridge flaps was performed at all Skin Cancer Institute facilities. The design and method of dissection are detailed and illustrated, including that of each hybrid of the bridge flap. RESULTS The bridge flap is a single-stage local flap that provides appropriate tissue match by harnessing adjacent laxity of tissues to recreate the original anatomy of the surgical site without disturbance of free margins or aesthetic landmarks. CONCLUSION The bridge flap is simple to perform and a reliable and robust method of obtaining immediate tissue reconstruction for medium sized defects of the scalp, temple, and forehead.