EVALUATION OF EFFICACY OF RHOMBOID FLAP IN MEDIAL CANTHUS RECONSTRUCTION

Region of medial canthus has both cosmetic and functional importance as it controls lid closure and coaptation of the lid and the globe which is essential for protecting the eye, tear distribution and drainage.Defects of medial canthus region are usually resulting from excision of tumours such as rodent ulcer or masses. Other causes of the defects are post-traumatic, loss of tissue after irradiation and after chemical or thermal burns.Various techniques are used to repair medial canthus defects depending on defects size, location, depth and patient preference .These techniques include Laissez-fair, full thickness skin grafts and various local flaps.The most common methods are free full thickness skin grafts, rotational flaps., for example, the glabellar flap, bilobed flaps, and transpositional flaps, for example the rhomboid flap.The rhomboid flap is a useful plastic surgical technique to cover defects created by simple excision in the shape of a rhombus, the flap is easy to design and its correct placement for maximal maneuverability has recently been simplified.The rhomboid flap, is one of transpositional flaps. It is potentially based suited to older patients with thinner, less sebaceous skin. These individuals have greater skin laxity so that less traction is required to pull the flap into the defect. Also excellent results can be obtained in younger patients with lax skin and patients with thicker sebaceous skin.