Versatility of the Limberg flap in reconstructions after resection of facial tumors

Introduction: Alexander Limberg created the Limberg flap in 1946 to repair rhomboid defects. The great advantage of using local flaps on the face is the similarity of color and texture of the tissues to the location of the defect to be repaired. Objective: To evaluate the advantage of using a Limberg flap to reconstruct facial defects created by the resection of tumors. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 12 cases in which Limberg flaps were used to reconstruct defects resulting from tumor resections in the face. Results: There were two epitheliosis cases; one developed partial necrosis of the flap, and both patients healed well with conservative treatment and daily changes of dressing. In one of the cases, the patient developed a post-operative hematoma requiring surgical drainage and flap repositioning, which resolved well, with only minor scar retraction. Discussion: The design of the flap requires precision. The main difficulty is the need to draw equal sides with accurate angles of 60 and 120 degrees. Conclusions: Limberg flaps are versatile and can produce good results in several areas of the face.

Keywords: FACE, SURGICAL FLAPS, SKIN NEOPLASM, RECONSTRUCTION