Nasal tip defects: satisfaction with Rintala flap for reconstruction-a report of 38 cases

Background Reconstruction of nasal tip defects is challenging due to the prominence of the nose and scarce local tissue. There are several well-known local flaps for tip reconstruction. The Rintala flap, a sliding axial musculocutaneous flap from the nasal dorsum, can be used without distorting adjacent tissues and preserves the nasal subunit's integrity. Although other case series confirmed viability and proposed modifications, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have not been previously reported.We set out to confirm the suitability of the Rintala flap for the reconstruction of nasal (supra) tip defects and describe patient satisfaction with this specific reconstruction.Methods We present a case series involving 38 patients from two Dutch centers between 2010 and 2020. After tumor excision on the nasal tip or dorsum, defects were reconstructed using the Rintala flap. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were collected using the FACE-Q skin cancer module, evaluating various aspects of health-related quality of life.Results There were no cases of flap necrosis, tip rotation, or glabellar flattening in this series. FACE-Q scores showed high overall satisfaction with facial appearance and scars.Conclusions The Rintala flap should be considered a reconstructive option for patients with defects of the nasal dorsum up to 1.5 cm in size, particularly for patients who desire elevation of the nasal tip. It is a simple, one-step procedure that produces reliable aesthetic results and leaves the forehead intact as a donor site for future reconstruction.The Rintala flap has distinct advantages in reconstructing nasal tip defects with excellent FACE-Q scores.