Lower lip reconstruction using a skin-mucosa Abbe-Estlander flap after squamous cell carcinoma excision

Abstract

Lips are structures that play an essential role in aesthetics and in different functions such as nutrition and speech. The complex anatomy of the lips – with three different layers composed of skin, mucosa, and muscles – makes surgical management of this area a therapeutic challenge. The use of flaps for the reconstruction of large defects with low risk of necrosis is possible given the abundant blood supply of the lips. We report a case of surgical reconstruction of the lower lip after the excision of a severe squamous cell carcinoma using a skin-mucosa Abbe-Estlander flap with a satisfactory final outcome.