Poster Presentation New Zealand Association of Plastic Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting

Microsurgical repair of the superior labial artery following accidental injury - a case report of Abbe flap survival (834)

Andrew D May 1
  1. Plastic Surgery, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Background

The Abbe flap is a popular local flap option for lip defect reconstruction. We describe a case never reported in the literature – accidental injury to the supplying vessel (superior labial artery) and subsequent microsurgical repair.

 Methods

A 62 year old man underwent wedge resection of the right lower lip for excision of biopsy proven SCC.

Abbe flap reconstruction was performed in standard fashion.

While raising the flap the superior labial artery was inadvertently injured – full thickness ~50% of circumference.

The vessel was repaired micro surgically with interrupted 10-0 Nylon suture with good flow post repair.

 Results

Flap survival was 100% with minimal congestion post operatively. The aesthetic result was excellent as expected from this flap design.

 Conclusions

Inadvertent arterial injury in axial pattern local flap reconstruction is rare for the Abbe flap. This case suggests that management with microsurgical repair of the superior labial artery will allow this flap to survive. 

  1. Abbe R. A new plastic operation for the relief of deformity due to double harelip (reprint from: Medical Record 1898;53:477) Plast Reconstr Surg. 1968;42:481–3