A modification of the Bernard cheiloplasty for carcinoma of the lower lip

Abstract

It is considered that the flow of lymph and its metastasis may occur along the mental region when an inferior labial tumor infiltrates into the white labial portion. For treating this kind of tumor, Martin's method employing the resection of the mental region through vertical incision from the vermillion border down to the lower margin of the mandible is suitable. This method increases the degree of radical treatment for tumors on one hand, but makes difficult to reconstruct the lower lip because of enhanced buccal tone on the other hand.
We now apply a modified Martin's method by adding incision on the lower margin of the mandible in the case of resection of inferior labial tumor and/or regional lymph vessel. For the reconstruction of inferior labial defect site, extensive cheek advancement flaps are used according to Fries's myoplastic method and our modifications mentioned above.
The method has been applied in three patients with satisfactory results both esthetically and functionally as of 6 months after operation.