To study the clinical effect of dynamic reconstruction of lower lip defect after squamous cell cancer resection by using unilateral Gillies fan flap and perioral muscle restoration.

From Feburary 2017 to January 2020, 8 patients (6 female and 2 male, aged 55-81, 62.9 in average)diagnosed lower lip squamous cell carcinoma were accepted treatment in the Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University. All the moderate lower lip defect after cancer resection were repaired with unilateral Gillies fan flap with perioral muscle restoration under general anesthesia. The length of the vermilion of the upper lip in the Gillies fan flap was designed to be 1/3 of the length of the vermilion of the lower lip defect. The composite axial flap was prepared with the blood supply from contralateral upper lip artery-ipsilateral upper lip artery-mouth corner part of facial artery-ipsilateral lower lip artery.The end of all the perioral muscles were also prepared. After reconstruction of the continuity of the orbicularis oris, the ends of these perioral radiation muscles were restored in the position where they should be in the reconstructed lip.These perioral muscles training were undergone for 6 months after operation. After the reconstructed lip tend to be stable, measurement and calculation were carried out to evaluate the appearance, opening and closing functions of the mouth.

In our series of 8 cases, the length of the vermilion of the upper/lower lip was 52.4 mm(46.0-60.0 mm) in average; the circumference of the vermilion was 104.8 mm(92-120 mm)in average; the length of the defect of lower lip was 27.6 mm (21.0-35.0 mm)in average, 52.5% (42.0-67.3%) of the vermilion of lower lip. Six cases were using the right-side flap, and the other 2 cases were left. The length of the vermilion of the upper lip in the Gillies fan flap was 9.5 mm(7.0-12.0 mm)in average.All cases healed well with inconspicuous scar. No infection, hematoma or other surgical complications.No local or distant recurrence of cancer was observed during the follow-up period. Numbness of the lower lip happened posto-peration, and gradually disappeared 6 months later.Evaluation was conducted according to the measurement result preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. (1) Appearance: the reconstructed lips were naturally symmetrical. Both side of the mouth corner were in the same horizontal level. The upper lip was lengthened with average increase of 6.8 mm and average increase rate of 15.9%. The lower lip was lengthened with average increase of 15.4 mm and average increase rate of 45.3%. In the rest situation, the circumference of the lips decreased by 5.5 mm in average compared with that preoperatively, which was 94.9% of the lip preoperatively, basically rehabilitate to the shape preoperatively.(2) Mouth-opening function: 1 week postoperation, the opening shape of mouth in all the cases was skewed with an about 1.5 fingers mouth-opening. Six months later, the opening shape of mouth was basically symmetrical round with a 3 fingers mouth-opening; in maximum mouth opening situation, the circumference of the lips decreased by 46.5 mm in average compared with that preoperatively, which was 73.1% of the lip in maximum mouth opening situation preoperatively, basically meeting physiological needs. (3) Mouth-closing function: All patient shave complete mouth-closing function and speech function.No leakage when making closed lip sound and whistling. All patients were satisfied with the oral appearance and the function of opening and closing mouth.

Unilateral Gillies fan flap with perioral muscle restoration is a reliable method to repair the moderate full-thickness defect of the lower lip after cancer resection. After dynamic reconstruction of the perioral muscle group, the insufficient tissue of lips can be extended to obtain sufficient mouth opening, natural corner of the mouth and symmetrical lip appearance.

Lip neoplasms; Reconstructive surgical procedures; Gillies fan flap