Abstract: 【Abstract】 Objective To evaluate performance of O-Z-O flaps in repair of adjacent facial skin defects. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted. A total of 60 patients with adjacent facial skin defects receiving O-Z-O flap repair were collected from the Third People′ s Hospital of Hangzhou from 2015 to 2018, including 50 with pigmented nevus, 4 with seborrheic keratosis, 3 with verruca vulgaris, 2 with basal cell carcinoma and 1 with squamous cell carcinoma. Among the 60 patients, 14 were males and 46 were females, with the age being 18 - 75 years. According to the condition of skin lesions, in situ resection was performed, and the optimal incision was designed; the "flap bridge", that is, the normal tissue between adjacent defects, was severed; according to the skin tension line and wrinkle line, residual ends of the two flap bridges were interlaced with each other, sutured and fixed interruptedly, and the wounds were repaired. Results The skin defects could be completely covered by O-Z-O flaps in the 60 patients. All the patients received primary healing of incisions without scar hyperplasia after operation. Conclusions The O-Z-O flap has advantages of flexible design and small incisions, and can be used for tension-reducing suture after excision of adjacent skin lesions. It is a good choice for repair of adjacent facial skin defects with satisfactory clinical effect.

Key words: Free tissue flaps, Face, Reconstructive surgical procedures, Suture techniques, O-Z-O flap