Free graft enhancement using orbicularis muscle mobilization.

[PURPOSE] The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how mobilization of the orbicularis oculi muscle can improve viability, appearance, and function of free skin grafts in the periocular region. By enhancing blood supply with this technique, healing often can be achieved in difficult reconstructive cases.

[METHODS] Seven patients underwent orbicularis muscle mobilization before placement of free skin grafts. Two patients underwent resection of basal cell carcinomas of the lateral eyelids and canthal region requiring complex reconstructive techniques such as lateral canthal tendon reconstruction with auricular cartilage. One patient underwent upper eyelid reconstruction after total resection for sebaceous cell carcinoma with pagetoid spread. Two patients had difficult wound dehiscences that were difficult to repair primarily. In addition, the lower eyelid with recurrent basal cell carcinomas of two patients who initially had undergone reconstruction with a Hughes procedure was reconstructed using tarsal strip grafts and orbicularis muscle mobilization combined with a free skin graft.

[RESULTS] All seven patients have viable free grafts to date, and no further problems occurred in the two patients with wound dehiscences. Follow-up ranges from 1 to 8 years.

[CONCLUSION] Orbicularis oculi muscle mobilization can be combined with a variety of techniques in eyelid and periorbital surgery, including difficult wound repair, reconstruction of the lateral canthal tendon with periosteal flaps or auricular cartilage, tarsal transposition flaps, mucosal grafts, and skin grafts. The addition of this technique can enhance the blood supply to the reconstructed area and allow healing which might not be obtained otherwise.