THE TYPOLOGY OF EXTERNAL NOSE DEFECTS WITH LOSS OF THE CARTILAGE IN PATIENTS WITH SKIN TUMORS

Objective: to substantiate the necessity to differentiate certain types of nasal defects with loss of the lower third nose cartilage. Material and methods. 121 patients with malignant neoplasm’s of the external nose having undergone radical surgery with single-step plastics of the lower third nose defect were included into the study. 35 of them (28.9 %) had cartilage loss. We used different reconstructive techniques to remove the skin defects, two-layer (skin + cartilage) and full-thickness defects. Results. From the technical point of view the most difficult was to remove unclosed full-thickness defects. The necessity was caused by the reconstruction of external and internal epithelial linings, missing cartilage and modeling of the nostril contour. Most of specific complications were revealed while removing the unclosed full-thickness defects. Conclusion . Full-thickness and two-layer (skin + cartilage) defects can be singled out among defects with loss of cartilage. In addition we divide full-thickness defects into defects with closed and unclosed contours. The suggested classification determines reconstructive methods and techniques and the predicted risk of complications.