LOWER EYELID RECONSTRUCTION USING PEDICLED SKIN FLAP AND PALATAL MUCOPERIOSTEUM

BACKGROUND. Full-thickness lower eyelid reconstruction requires functi onal as well as aesthetic considerations to be successful in the long term. The three elements necessary for a stable result are skin, mucos a, and a semirigid ''skeleton'' to provide the support that prevents t he development of ectropion. A number of techniques Combining these el ements are described in the literature, with reconstruction in one or more stages. OBJECTIVE. We report a simple method of reconstruction of a full-thickness lower eyelid defect, in which palatal mucoperiosteum provided both the mucosal and the ''skeletal'' components following t umor excision. METHODS. Literature review and report of illustrated ca se. RESULTS. A cosmetically acceptable result with no functional defic it or donor site morbidity. CONCLUSION. Palatal mucoperiosteum provide s an abundant supply of tissue that may be used successfully in the re construction of the lower eyelid. It functions both as a mucosal linin g in addition to a semirigid supporting framework. (C) 1997 by the Ame rican Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.