The infrahyoid flap: A comprehensive review of an often overlooked reconstructive method

The infrahyoid flap is a myocutaneous pedicled flap mainly nourished by the superior thyroid vessels through the perforators of the infrahyoid muscles. This thin and pliable flap provides a skin island of about 7 by 4 cm from the central part of the anterior neck. The flap can be transferred on its pedicle of superior thyroid artery and vein to reconstruct medium sized head and neck defects created after cancer ablation. We have successfully used this flap in a series of 40 cases with no total flap loss and with 1 case of superficial skin necrosis. The aim of this review is to highlight the clinical usefulness of this pedicled flap even in the microvascular free flap era. A comprehensive review of the available literature reporting on the infrahyoid flap has been carried out using a web search. The history of the infrahyoid flap, the surgical technique with technical innovations, the clinical utility and limitations of this flap, are reported and discussed. Among the 7 larger series (cohort larger than 50 cases) a total of 956 flaps were performed, and the global success rate was 91.7%, with failures being mainly related to partial skin necrosis, as the rate of total (skin and muscle) flap necrosis was only 1%.This flap is reliable, easy to harvest during neck dissection, oncologically safe, it does carry a negligible donor site morbidity. This paper highlights how the infrahyoid flap can represent an excellent reconstructive solution in selected patients and head and neck sites.     

Use of omentum pedicled graft to protect great vessels in gastric transposition for pharyngoesophageal cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Transmediastinal gastric transposition and pharyngogastric anastomosis is perhaps one of the most widely accepted methods for restoration of the alimentary continuity after pharyngoesophageal resection. The need of neck dissection, mediastinal tracheostomy, and previous radiotherapy may favor exposure and rupture of major vessels. Protection with omentum may prevent this complication. A comprehensive review of omentum flap use in surgery was undertaken. METHODS: A modified omentum pedicled flap was used in 6 out of 36 patients submitted to total pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy and gastric transposition (PLE>). RESULTS: None of the patients had major vessel rupture as compared with a 13% carotid and innominate artery rupture of a series of 30 patients previously operated on without omentum pedicled flap protection. CONCLUSIONS: The omental pedicled flap, performed as described, may provide reliable protection for carotid and innominate artery exposure, adding little time to the procedure.     

Modification of the infra hyoid musculo-cutaneous flap.

BACKGROUND: In 1986, Wang described the infra hyoid musculo-cutaneous flap. Here, we report technical adaptations and improvements to this flap. METHODS: From 1994 to 1996, we performed 61 infrahyoid flaps using the classical procedure. After 5 years of technical evolution, we studied a new series of 91 flaps from January 2000 to June 2002. We reviewed our experience with the infra hyoid flap and described the surgical procedure, its evolution and the impact on the viability of the flap. RESULTS: In the two series, the main arterial pedicle was usually the superior thyroid artery. Venous drainage was more variable; consequently we always performed a modified neck dissection with preservation of the internal jugular vein. In the first series, the surgical results were good with only seven local complications essentially skin necrosis. The functional and aesthetic results seemed acceptable. In the second series, the results, after technical evolution with better venous drainage and cervical closure, were improved (only one necrosis) and the indications were extended. CONCLUSION: With experience, the infra hyoid myocutaneous flaps is reliable and appears as a particularly useful flap for oral cavity, oral pharynx and pharyngeolaryngeal reconstruction.     

Use of the infra hyoid musculo-cutaneous flap in soft palate reconstruction

AIMS: To review a series of 23 consecutive patients with squamous cell carcinomas arising from oropharynx who underwent infra hyoid musculo-cutaneous flap reconstruction including soft palate in alternative to free radial forearm flap or maxillofacial prosthesis. Post operative radiotherapy was performed for all patients. RESULTS: Every reconstruction healed quickly without major wound complications. The functional results evaluated by speech and swallowing capacities, were good for 17 patients, fair for 4 patients and bad for 2. CONCLUSIONS: The infra hyoid musculo-cutaneous flap is a versatile, reliable and convenient flap suitable for repairing small and medium sized defects; it can be used in combination with other flaps, and in selected cases obviates the need for a microvascular free radial forearm flap or maxillofacial prosthesis.     

Experience with microvascular free flaps in preoperatively irradiated tissue of the oral cavity and oropharynx in 303 patients

This study examined free flap reconstruction of surgical defects of the oral cavity and oropharynx after preoperative radiochemotherapy. Included in this analysis are 303 prospectively followed patients who underwent a multimodal treatment regime for advanced oral and oropharyngeal carcinoma. All patients received preoperative radiochemotherapy (Mitomycin C, 5-FU, 50 Gy), ablative surgery, and primary free flap reconstruction. Patient characteristics, surgical parameters like duration of surgery and ischaemia, size of defect, type of transplant, and clinical outcome parameters like duration of intensive care and hospitalization, type of complications, necessity and type of revision surgery were statistically evaluated. Overall flap success rate was 93.1%. Sixty seven patients required revision and 21 flaps (6.9%) were lost. Overall complication rate was 22.1%. Mean duration of intensive care (DOIC) and duration of overall postoperative hospitalization (DOH) were 11.0+/-9.6 days and 35.9+/-26.3 days, respectively. Flap success and flap related complications after 50 Gy focal radiation dosage were found in a comparable range as in published series of reconstructions in uncompromised tissue.     

Interposition arthroplasty in temporomandibular joint ankylosis

We report a series of 60 cases of post- traumatic temporomandibular joint ankylosis that were treated at our unit from 1992 to 2002 by temporalis fascia flap interposition arthopiasty. Majority of these patients (21 patients, 35%) were in the age group of 15–20 years, with 39 males (65%) and 21 females (35%). The duration of ankylosis varied from 6 months to more than 4 years with 32 patients (54.32%) having a duration of 6 months to 2 years. 44 patients (73.33%) had unilateral white 16 patients (26.67%) had bilateral involvement of temporomandibular joint. Pedicled temporalise fascia axial flap based on superficial temporal artery was used for interpositional arthopiasty. The advantage is that it is available at the operative site, easy to raise, well vascularized, reliable and with better long term results. Adequate mouth opening was achieved in all cases and a long follow up, of up to 10 years for the earlier operated cases, showed no recurrence of ankylosis in any of the patients.     

Skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with a deep inferior epigastric perforator flap

BACKGROUND: It is important for breast reconstruction after mastectomy to recreate immediately good breast symmetry with an adequate amount of soft tissue. METHODS: Eight patients with breast cancer underwent skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with a deep inferior epigastric perforator flap. This operative technique, and the results, advantages, and disadvantages of the technique were assessed. RESULTS: Seven patients had stage IIA disease, and one patient had stage I disease. An arc-shaped incision was made just at the lateral border of the breast in all patients. Three patients had a separate periareolar incision, and one had a circumferential nipple incision. There was 100% flap survival, and good breast symmetry was achieved in all patients. No major perioperative complications occurred in this series. A small amount of fat necrosis occurred in one flap. One patient had slight abdominal bulging. Minor wound-healing problems at the lateral breast skin envelope occurred in two patients. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with a DIEP flap is a reliable and safe technique. This method is a potentially useful surgical technique, which has achieved very promising results.     

Postoperative radiotherapy after flap reconstructive surgery in patients with head and neck cancer: A retrospective monocentric study with flap delineation to assess toxicity and relapse

PurposeFlaps are increasingly used during reconstructive surgery of head and neck cancers to improve functional outcomes. There are no guidelines as to whether the whole flap or its anastomotic border should be included in the primary tumour target volume of postoperative radiotherapy to prevent local relapses. Relapse and toxicity rates can increase substantially if the whole flap received full dose. Our aim was to determine whether flaps were included in the primary tumour target volume and to report the patterns of relapse and toxicity.Materials and methodsConsecutive patients in 2014 through 2016, with or without a flap, receiving postoperative radiotherapy were selected in a retrospective monocentric control study. Flaps were homogenously delineated blind to treating radiation oncologists using a flap-specific atlas. Tumour recurrence, acute and late toxicity were evaluated using univariate and propensity score analyses.ResultsA hundred patients were included; 54 with a flap. Median flap volume included in the tumour volume was 80.9%. Twelve patients experienced local recurrences: six with a flap, among whom two within their flap (3.7%). Patients with flaps had larger median tumour volumes to be irradiated (25 cm³ versus 58 cm³, p < 0.001) and higher acute/late toxicity rates (p < 0.001) even after adjustment on biases (more advanced T stage, oral cavity, active smoking in patients with flaps). Locoregional recurrence and survival rates were similar between patients with/without a flap.ConclusionRecurrences within a flap were rare in this series when including the whole flap body in the 60Gy-clinical target volume but inclusion of the flap in the primary tumour target volume increased toxicity. Multicentric studies are warranted.     

乳腺癌术后皮瓣坏死原因分析和防治措施的探讨

目的　分析乳腺癌术后皮瓣坏死的原因及探讨防治措施。方法　对14 2例乳腺癌患者术后的临床资料进行总结,回顾性分析患者年龄、手术方式、切口选择、皮瓣厚度、皮瓣张力、手术刀或高频电刀游离皮瓣、单纯性持续中心负压吸引或持续中心负压吸引加弹力绷带加压包扎与皮瓣坏死程度的关系。结果　14 2例乳腺癌患者中,术后皮瓣坏死2 7例,占19.0 1%。皮瓣坏死与切口选择、皮瓣厚度和皮瓣张力有关(P <0 .0 5 )。采用横梭形切口(8.82 % ,3 /3 4)、厚皮瓣(17.3 5 % ,17/98)、低张力皮瓣(7.81% ,5 /64 )者的皮瓣坏死发生率分别较纵梭形切口(2 2 .11% ,2 1/95 )或斜梭形切口(2 3 .0 8% ,3 /13 )、薄皮瓣(2 2 .73 % ,10 /4 4)和高张力皮瓣(2 8.2 1% ,2 2 /78)者低,有显著性差异(P <0 .0 5 )。结论　乳腺癌术后皮瓣坏死原因是多方面的,皮瓣供血不足是术后皮瓣坏死的根本原因。合理的选择手术切口,选择适当厚度的皮瓣,术中慎用电刀,无张力缝合,保护皮瓣血运,术后持续中心负压吸引,适当加压包扎等是防治皮瓣坏死的关键措施。     

Free muscle transfer with split thickness skin graft coverage in head and neck reconstructive surgery

Sixteen patients (eight females and eight males) who underwent microsurgical free tissue transfers for head and neck reconstruction are reviewed. In this series, the flap reconstruction was completed on eleven patients with extra-oral defects and five with intra-oral defects. Split thickness skin graft coverage was used in all cases. The rectus abdominis free muscle flap was used in nine patients and the latissimus dorsi free muscle flap in seven patients. The choice of tissue reconstruction was decided by the size of the surgical defect. There were no failures of the tissue transfers and skin grafts. In skilled hands, free tissue transfer provides a reliable method of head and neck reconstruction, with a low incidence of recipient and donor site complications. In extra-oral defects, coverage of free muscle transfer with split thickness skin grafts, results in a better colour match than musculocutaneous flaps, and complements the appearance and pliability of the free muscle flap.     

不同修复方法修复口腔颌面部肿瘤术后缺损的效果比较

目的探讨不同修复方法修复口腔颌面部肿瘤术后缺损的效果。方法选取口腔颌面部肿瘤根治术后缺损患者89例,根据最终选取的修复方案分为A组(n=49)和B组(n=40),A组给予股前外侧嵌合皮瓣修复,B组给予串联皮瓣修复。观察2组手术情况,采用华盛顿大学头颈肿瘤生活质量量表(UW-QOL)对患者术后生活质量进行评价,检测唾液中唾液酸(SA)及癌胚抗原(CEA)水平。结果 A组手术时间、胃管拔除时间和经口进食时间分别为(6.30±1.19)h、(19.77±2.81)d和(20.32±2.19)d,明显少于B组(P<0.05);但A组皮瓣制作时间为(1.20±0.28)h,明显多于B组(P<0.05)。A组术后6个月UW-QOL量表中外观、吞咽、咀嚼、言语、肩功能、情绪评分分别为(63.29±4.54)分、(54.93±5.03)分、(47.12±6.02)分、(64.49±4.33)分、(82.20±5.43)分和(75.50±7.20)分,明显高于B组(P<0.05)。A组和B组术后6个月UW-QOL量表中疼痛、活动、娱乐、味觉、唾液及焦虑评分比较差异无统计学意义(P>...     

Island Pectoralis Major Myocutaneous Flap: An Indian Perspective

The aim of this study is to conceive a method of raising an island PMMC flap, so as to circumvent its drawbacks of bulk, flap length and the difficulty of developing this flap in female patients. And to consider island PMMC flap as a viable reconstructive option in head and neck surgeries, especially in peripheral centres. Ours is an experimental case series. The study was done at Sri Devaraj URS Medical college, Tamaka, Kolar. Between 2009 and 2010, head and neck reconstruction was performed using this method in 20 patients who had oral cancer (18), carcinoma supraglottis (1) and mucoepidermoid carcinoma parotid (1). The patients age ranged from 16 to 75 years, and there were 15 women and 5 men. Nineteen of our patients underwent primary surgery and one patient was operated for residual disease. In (16) patient, island pmmc flap was used for intra oral closure. In (4) patients the flap was spiraled for providing skin cover. Four patients developed complications. Three were minor complications of margin necrosis and wound dehiscence, which were managed conservatively. One patient developed orocutaneous fistula, which required secondary suturing. None of our patients had a total necrosis of the flap. Island PMMC flap is still a very useful and viable option for reconstruction in head and neck surgeries, especially in lateral gingivo buccal tumours and other head and neck tumours. In institutions where microvascular expertise is not available, island PMMC flap can be an alternative with results comparable to that of free tissue transfer.     

5th Rib Osteo-pectoralis Major Myocutaneous Flap—Still a Viable Option for Mandibular Defect Reconstruction

Reconstruction of mandible is of paramount importance following ablative surgery for oral cancer. Though osteocutaneous micro-vascular free flap is generally accepted to be the mainstay of mandibular reconstruction, other reconstructive options are also done for mandibular reconstruction with good results. Seventeen patients of oral cavity cancer involving the alveolus who had underwent hemi-mandibulectomy were reconstructed using 5th rib osteo-pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. Procedure related pleural tear occurred in 3 patients during harvesting of the rib which were repaired intra-operatively with no post-operative complications. There were 2 failures in our series, in the rest 15 patients the flap had taken up; have good oral continence taking semi-solid diet and have satisfactory cosmetic appearance. This study shows that 5th rib osteo-pectoralis major myocutaneous flap is a quick, easy to learn, one stage reconstructive procedure with a good predictable cosmetic and functional outcomes.     

Single perforator based anterolateral thigh flap for reconstruction of large composite defects of oral cavity

Composite defects of oral cavity are a reconstructive challenge. Anterolateral thigh flap provides large and pliable tissue for reconstruction of these defects. However, wide variations in the vascular anatomy, variable perforator number and location are reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of single perforator based large anterolateral thigh for reconstruction of complex oral cavity defects following ablative surgery. We report a series of 25 consecutive patients who underwent reconstruction of oral cavity defects with anterolateral thigh flap based on single perforator between August 2009 and August 2010. The mean flap dimension was 261cm(2) (range 80-540cm(2)). In 21 patients the flap was bi-paddled and used for inner and outer lining for cheek. None of the flaps developed perforator insufficiency. Two flaps were lost due to delayed neck wound sepsis after 7th post operative day. This study establishes safety and reliability of using a large and/or bi-paddled anterolateral thigh flap based on single perforator for reconstruction of complex oral cavity defects.     

Distal skin paddle as a monitor for buried anterolateral thigh flap in pharyngoesophageal reconstruction

For buried flaps in the head and neck, direct monitoring of the flap can be extremely difficult. The authors report their experience with 22 patients who underwent pharyngoesophageal reconstruction using an anterolateral thigh (ALT) fasciocutaneous perforator flap with a design that addresses the concerns of buried flap monitoring. This is an observational study of 22 patients, who underwent pharyngoesophageal reconstruction with ALT fasciocutaneous flaps between June 2006 and February 2008. The design of the flap consists of three components: proximal component of flap for pharyngeal reconstruction, mid-component de-epithelized for esophageal-skin flap junction, and distal component either as an external sentinel monitor or for replacing the external neck skin, nourished solely by the suprafascial plexus. The patients' age ranged between 40 and 72 years with a mean age of 55.5 years. The measurements of the skin paddles of the ALT flaps ranged from 10 to 30 cm in length and 6 to 8 cm in width. The flap success rate was 95.5% (21/22). The overall sensitivity and specificity rate of this monitoring method is 100% and 94.7% respectively. There were venous congestions found in four skin paddles. One was demonstrated to be false positive after re-exploration. The other three were true positives and two of these were salvaged successfully. The remaining flap could not be salvaged due to severe deep neck infection. Three patients had a small fistula at the distal end of the esophageal-skin flap junction. All healed spontaneously after conservative treatment. This ALT flap design for pharyngoesophageal defect reconstruction is simple and versatile. The distal skin flap can be utilized as an external sentinel monitor for the buried part of the flap, and for resurfacing of the anterior neck skin if required.     

Comparison of radial forearm free flap, pedicled buccal fat pad flap and split-thickness skin graft in reconstruction of buccal mucosal defect

There are a variety of methods to reconstruct the mucosal defect after the ablation of buccal cancer. We used the radial forearm free flap (RFFF), pedicled buccal fat pad flap (PBFPF) or split-thickness skin graft (STSG) to reconstruct the buccal mucosal defect in our series respectively and compared the mouth-open width among these methods. We found there was no significant difference in the change of mouth-open width between the Group STSG and Group PBFPF. However, the negative effect on the mouth opening was significantly less (p<0.05) in Group RFFF when compared with the Group STSG or Group PBFPF. In conclusion, reconstruction with radial forearm free flap for buccal mucosal defect carries more chances to preserve the original mouth-open width than with pedicled buccal fat pad flap or split-thickness skin graft among the selected patients who undergo tumor resection for T2 or T3 buccal cancer.     

Wound complications following pre-operative radiotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma.

AIMS: We analysed wound complications in 43 patients with soft tissue sarcoma who were treated with combined pre-operative radiotherapy and surgery. METHODS: All patients received the same protocol of pre-operative radiotherapy at our institution. RESULTS: Thirty-six (84%) patients developed acute skin toxicity following radiotherapy. After wide local excision, 15 patients required primary soft tissue reconstruction with vascularized muscle transfer and four patients underwent free skin flap to enable wound closure as part of their primary surgery. Nineteen patients (44%) developed post-operative wound complications including 10 (23%) patients who required an additional surgical procedure. Four (27%) patients developed flap necrosis in a group of 15 who underwent primary vascularized soft tissue transfer. All required a second vascularized muscular flap. One elderly patient, who had grade 3 acute radiation skin toxicity, had an arterial graft and total hip arthroplasty for a femoral artery aneurysm and an avascular necrosis of the hip, respectively. In our series, age (> or = 40 years) was the only impact factor influencing wound complication after surgery following radiotherapy (P=0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Site of tumour, radiation field size, surgical resection volume, grade of acute radiation toxicity, co-morbidity, and smoking were not demonstrated to have predictive value in wound complication following pre-operative radiotherapy. Although previous papers suggested that vascularized soft tissue transfer could be useful reducing wound morbidity, our results could not confirm this.     

43例喉复发转移癌的手术治疗

目的:探讨喉复发转移癌的手术治疗方法及临床疗效.方法:对1981年1月至2001年7月43例喉复发转移癌患者进行手术治疗.根据病变的不同情况采用颈清扫、喉部分切除术、全喉切除术、全咽喉食管切除术等,以胸大肌肌皮瓣、胸三角皮瓣、裂层皮片、胃上提、喉气管瓣等修复组织缺损.结果:自首次手术时计算,3年生存率为60.47%,5年生存率为41.89%.95.35%(41/43)的患者恢复了较好的吞咽功能.29例喉部分切除术后局部复发的7例患者保留了喉功能.结论:对喉复发转移癌行积极的手术治疗对提高患者的生存期和改善患者的生存质量有重要意义.     

可吸收线缝合皮瓣固定在乳腺癌改良根治术中的临床应用

目的评价可吸收线缝合皮瓣固定在乳腺癌手术中的临床应用的价值。方法将2011年4月至2012年4月我院收治的95例乳腺癌患者随机分为2组,一组行可吸收线缝合皮瓣固定(43例),另一组切口直接缝合(52例),比较2组患者术后的总引流量、皮下积液及皮瓣坏死的发生情况。结果可吸收线缝合皮瓣固定组的患者术后的总引流量为(302.7±50.7)ml,皮下积液发生率为14.0%,皮瓣坏死发生率为4.7%,切口直接缝合组的患者术后的总引流量为(483.5±56.8)ml,皮下积液发生率为32.7%,皮瓣坏死发生率为19.2%,两组患者术后的总引流量、皮瓣坏死及皮下积液发生率相比均有统计学差异(P0.05)。结论采用可吸收线缝合皮瓣固定的方法可以明显减少乳腺癌改良根治术后皮下积液及皮瓣坏死的发生。     

80岁以上高龄口腔颌面部恶性肿瘤患者手术治疗的回顾性分析

背景与目的：随着人口老龄化趋势日益明显，高龄患者口腔恶性肿瘤的比例也在升高，目前主要治疗方法仍为手术治疗。该研究旨在评估80岁以上口腔颌面部恶性肿瘤患者的手术方式及治疗效果，为临床治疗提供参考。方法：回顾性分析2013年1月—2017年8月经青岛大学附属医院口腔颌面外科手术治疗的139例80岁以上老年口腔颌面部恶性肿瘤患者的临床资料，包括术前评估、手术风险、围手术期并发症等。结果：139例患者平均年龄为84.3（80~98）岁，其中鳞状细胞癌患者占78.4%，均顺利行扩大切除手术治疗，其主要修复方式为局部随意瓣（滑行瓣、旋转瓣等）、带蒂皮瓣［胸大肌皮瓣（pectoralis major myocutaneous flap，PMMF）、颏下岛状瓣（submentalental island flap，SMIF）等］及游离皮瓣移植［股前外侧游离皮瓣（anterolateral thigh flap，ALTF）及前臂游离皮瓣（radial forearm free flap，RFFF）］。无围手术期死亡患者，术后并发症发生率为26.6%。结论：年龄不是手术禁忌，根据术前评估和高龄患者手术耐受性决定手术方案的设计，80岁以上患者仍可接受彻底根治性手术和修复重建术，恢复外形和功能同期完成，获得了良好的手术治疗效果。