Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery Medknow Publications on behalf of Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery ISSN: 0970-0358 EISSN: 1998-376x Vol. 40, Num. 2, 2007, pp. 147-152

Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery, Vol. 40, No. 2, July-December, 2007, pp. 147-152

Original Article

Comparison of four surgical methods for eyebrow reconstruction

Omranifard Mahmood, Koushki AMehrabi

Department of Plastic Surgery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Correspondence Address:Department of Plastic Surgery, Imam Mousa Kazem Burns Hospital, Kaveh Ave, Isfahan 81388 - 94948, d_omrani@yahoo.com

Code Number: pl07045

Abstract

Keywords: Forehead flap, hair graft, reconstruction, superficial temporal artery flap

Eyebrow loss is a major problem in facial injury. Causes of eyebrow loss are burns, trauma, tumour, tattoo and alopecia. Facial burns comprise one-fourth to one-third of all burns. Many facial burns result in eyebrow loss. Eyebrow loss may be complete or incomplete and unilateral or bilateral. The eyebrow is an important subunit of facial aesthetics and expression. Partial or total absence of eyebrow is an unpleasant and disturbing condition which can alter the character of the face. Aesthetic reconstruction of eyebrow is a challenging task for the reconstructive surgeon, thus eyebrow repair can be an important finishing touch in the overall reconstruction of a burned face. ^[1]

Classic methods for eyebrow reconstruction are:

1. Grafts: micrograft or minigraft, punch graft and strip graft.
2. Flap: superficial temporal artery island flap with anterior or posterior branch.
3. Interpolation flap from scalp. ^[2]

Materials and Methods

In this descriptive analytical study, we evaluated 76 patients with eyebrow injuries who were hospitalized at the Imam Mousa Kazem and Al-Zahra University Hospitals, Isfahan, Iran from 1994 to 2004. In this study we compared four surgical methods for eyebrow reconstruction. These methods were superficial temporal artery, scalp flap, graft and forehead flap with INF pedicle (facial pedicle).

Patients were followed for two years after surgery and the required data were collected from questionnaires. The collected data were then analyzed with SPSS. Statistical methods applied to analyze data included Student′s t and Chi-square tests.

Methods of surgery in our study were: Superficial temporal artery island flap for 49 patients, Interpolitation scalp flap for six patients, Graft for 12 patients and Forehead facial flap with INF pedicle for 19 patients. The last technique which was only partly practiced by Koceru and Ulusoy ^[3] was the focus of our attention in this study.

This method includes a skin island with hair from the frontal area or anterior temporal area with subcutaneous facial pedicle - supratrochleal or supraorbital arteries in the medial side of pedicle can help increase its blood flow; however, this flap survives with lateral facial pedicle even without such supply.

To design our flap [Figure - 1]a, we take an island of hair-bearing scalp skin. Preferably, the island is designed at least 2-3 cm posterior to the temporo frontal hairline to avoid future male type alopecia in the reconstructed eyebrow.

The posterior incision of the flap is cut deep to the upper layer of the periosteum. The anterior edge of incision extends to frontalis muscle fascia [Figure - 1]b.

Dissection is continued from the posterior to anterior in the forehead area via a subfacial approach. Anteriorly, dissection is continued subcutaneously up to one-third of the forehead height. This is especially to protect the frontal branch of the facial nerve during dissection. A subcutaneous tunnel is dissected from the donor site of the hair-bearing island to the eyebrow recipient site and the skin island is transferred to new site subcutaneously [Figure - 1]c-e. New eyebrow site designing in bilateral eyebrow loss is performed with special index like Leonardo but in unilateral eyebrow loss, the contralateral eyebrow is used as a model.

Results

Of the 76 patients, 24 (31.6%) were male and the rest 52 (68.4%) were female. Ten cases (13.2%) had bilateral eyebrow injury while the remaining 66 (86.8%) suffered unilateral defects. Totally 86 reconstructed eyebrows were included in this study. Defects were on the right (36), left (30) and both eyebrows (10). Burns accounted for 72% of these cases, whereas trauma and tumour were associated with 20% and 8% of the cases respectively.

After completion of all surgical stages, all patients underwent evaluation for the following indices:

1. Hair direction : According to our results shown in [Table - 1], hair direction in all those operated with Frontal Flap method was excellent. However, with other methods, the results were less favourable. Comparing the results of different methods via the Fisher Exact test, it was revealed that a statistically significant difference between Frontal Flap and other modalities exists (P ≤ 0.005).

2. Complications : The results of this study showed that early congestion as a complication of eyebrow surgery was seen in 10 (4.4%) cases who were operated with superficial temporal method, however, this does not affect flap survival [Table - 2]. As reviewed in [Table - 2], other complications of eyebrow reconstruction such as hair loss, donor alopecia and temporary facial disfiguration, were less in Frontal Flap with inferior flap when compared to other methods. Virtually, we did not find any serious complications with Frontal Flap method (our innovation flap).

3. Patient satisfaction : As shown in [Table - 3], all patients who underwent eyebrow reconstruction via Frontal Flap method enjoyed perfect satisfaction. Similarly, those operated with Scalp Flap method were fully satisfied with surgery outcome. However, with Superficial Temporal Island flap method, only 19 (38.8%) of the 49 patients expressed complete satisfaction.

4. Stages of operation : Number of operation stages is a determining factor in choosing a method for eyebrow reconstruction [Table - 4]. Frontal Flap method with inferior pedicle seems to need a lesser number of stages to be completed. Other methods like graft may need three or more stages and Scalp Flap method needs two stages for flap inset and two successive stages for eyebrow trimming and repair.

Discussion

Several approaches have so far been introduced for eyebrow reconstruction. Grafting is usually simple but hair density is not enough ^[4],[5] and requires more than two stages to be completed [Figure - 2]a and b.

Motamed and Davami ^[1] believed that composite graft was preferable for females while the Superficial Temporal Artery Island Flap seemed more suitable for males.

Although temporal vessels enjoy a constant anatomical course, along with a large diameter and long axis, ^[6] to our experience we can achieve excellent results in eyebrow reconstruction through applying methods of much more simplicity. Kocer et al. performed Forehead Flap with facial inferior pedicle in a few cases. ^[3] We applied this method to 19 patients which was a much greater sample size [Figure - 3]a and b.

Kim et al. introduced a simple variant of this method for partial eyebrow defect. ^[7] In this study we included both partial and complete defect reconstruction. In addition, to prevent male pattern baldness in the transferred flap, ^[8] we took our skin island from 1.5 to 2.5 cm posterior to the anterior frontal or temporal hairline.

The direction of hair in this area parallels eyebrow hair and donor alopecia and scar are minimal [Figure - 5]a, [Figure - 6]c.

This was the particular innovation we added to this method. With this method, dissection and incision is minimal and donor alopecia is simply treated. On the contrary, in the classic method of posterior branch of the superficial temporal artery island flap the dissection is wide and requires greater experience and a longer learning curve on the part of the surgeon. ^[9]

It is also technically difficult and the bulk of flap and donor alopecia are problems and the direction and hair density do not usually provide satisfactory results [Figure - 4],[Figure - 6].

For medial eyebrow reconstruction, supratrochleal and supraorbital arteries can provide a favourable perfusion supply; however, the flap may even survive without such supplies. Though mini or micro follicular-unit hair grafting is a safe and simple method, it is advised for minor eyebrow defects. ^{[10],[11],[12]} In case micro follicular grafting is applied for large defects, it may require several stages and therefore is not cost-effective.

Conclusion

Acknowledgments

References

Copyright 2007 - Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery

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