Use of medial upper arm free flap in oral cavity reconstruction: a preliminary study

The medial upper arm has previously been proposed as a potential free flap donor site, but the clinical application of such flaps in head and neck reconstruction has not been popular. The preliminary results of the clinical application of medial upper arm free flaps in oral cavity reconstruction are reported here. Five patients with oral cancer underwent surgical resection and neck dissection, with simultaneous reconstruction using a medial upper arm free flap. Functional outcomes were investigated using the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire. Sensory-motor functions of the upper arm donor site were recorded before and after surgery. Four flaps were successfully transferred. One flap was abandoned during surgery because of a lack of perforators, and a forearm flap was used instead. All patients survived without loco-regional recurrence or distant metastasis. Functional outcomes, especially swallowing and speech, were satisfactory. The donor site scar was well hidden, with no functional impairment. This initial experience shows that the medial upper arm free flap represents an alternative perforator flap for oral cavity microsurgical reconstruction. The well-hidden scar and better texture match compared with other flaps make it suitable for oral cavity reconstruction.     

Early oral intake after reconstruction with a free flap for cancer of the oral cavity

To allow healing of the surgical wound patients are traditionally given nothing by mouth for 6–12 days after resection and reconstruction of a cancer of the oral cavity. Our aim was to assess the impact of introducing oral intake within 6 days postoperatively. Consecutive patients who had resection and reconstruction of a cancer of the oral cavity with a free flap within an 8-year period were selected from the head and neck database. Personal and social data; type, stage, and site of the tumour; type of resection and free flap; postoperative complications; and duration of hospital stay were recorded, supplemented by review of casenotes for the time that oral intake was started, duration of nasogastric and tracheostomy intubation, and changes in body weight. Patients in the early oral intake group started oral intake within 5 days postoperatively, and those in the late group began feeding from postoperative day 6. The duration of hospital stay in the early group was significantly shorter than that in the late group. There was, however, no difference in the morbidity, including orocutaneous fistula, between the two groups. The duration of nasogastric and tracheostomy intubation was shorter, and weight loss was less, in the early group than in the late group, but not significantly so. Early oral feeding does not increase the morbidity for patients having resection and reconstruction with free flaps for cancers of the oral cavity. Early oral intake is associated with a shorter hospital stay, and this may have implications for improved postoperative outcome.     

游离延展上臂外侧皮瓣在口腔癌术后软组织缺损中的应用

目的 探讨游离延展上臂外侧皮瓣修复口腔癌术后软组织缺损的临床疗效。方法 2011年1月—2013年12月,应用游离延展上臂外侧皮瓣一期修复15例口腔癌扩大切除术造成的软组织缺损,术前应用多普勒血流探测仪测量桡侧副动脉无变异后,根据其走行以及术中软组织缺损的面积、形态设计皮瓣,皮瓣均越过肱骨外上髁,面积为4 cｍ×5 cm～11 cm×5 cm,血管蒂长约10cm。供区创面直接拉拢缝合。结果 14例皮瓣成活,１例因术后第2天发生动脉血管危象,抢救皮瓣无效,皮瓣坏死。术后随访12个月以上,所有患者均无肿瘤复发,肘部瘢痕较细,肘运动无障碍,未出现桡神经损伤引起的垂腕,２例患者供区局部有麻木感,６个月后症状减轻。术后患者语言功能恢复良好,鼻咽纤维镜检查吞咽顺利,腭咽闭合良好。所有患者ｌｉｋｅｒｔ评分法均为4～5分。结论 游离延展上臂外侧皮瓣解剖恒定、厚度适宜、血供可靠,是修复口腔癌术后软组织缺损的一种较好的选择。     

Comparison of islanded facial artery myomucosal flap with fasciocutaneous free flaps in the reconstruction of lateral oral tongue defects

The aim of this study was to determine whether the islanded facial artery myomucosal flap (iFAMM) is a good alternative to fasciocutaneous free flaps (FCFF) in the reconstruction of lateral oral tongue defects. This was a retrospective study of 40 patients with oral tongue cancers (lateral lesions not >4 cm) operated on between August 2014 and March 2017, who underwent primary reconstruction with either an iFAMM or FCFF. The two groups were compared with respect to intraoperative time, total intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay, complications, speech, swallowing, aesthetics, donor site morbidity, and economic feasibility. Patients who had an iFAMM had a reduced operating time, duration of ICU stay, and length of hospitalization; this flap was also more economically feasible. Better aesthetics and less donor site morbidity were also seen. The iFAMM is an alternative to FCFF in the reconstruction of lateral oral tongue defects, as it is less technically demanding, has good aesthetic outcomes, and is more economical, with acceptable donor site morbidity.     

Risk factors for postoperative delirium in patients undergoing free flap reconstruction for oral cancer

The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for postoperative delirium in patients undergoing free flap reconstruction for defects after oral cancer resection. This was a non-randomized, retrospective cohort study involving 102 patients who underwent oral cancer resection and free flap reconstruction. Data were collected from the medical records. Postoperative delirium occurred in 34 patients (33.3%), of whom 27 were male and seven were female. High preoperative total protein and albumin, diabetes mellitus, history of smoking, use of hypnotics or antipsychotics, time until getting out of bed after surgery, and postoperative insomnia were significantly related to delirium in the univariate analysis (P < 0.05). In a multiple logistic regression model, high preoperative albumin (odds ratio 4.45), postoperative insomnia (odds ratio 10.72), and history of smoking (odds ratio 2.91) were significant risk factors for delirium (P < 0.05). The analysis of laboratory data before and after surgery showed greater decreases in albumin, total protein, and haemoglobin after surgery in patients with postoperative delirium than in those without this condition. These results show that the perioperative maintenance of nutritional status and early postoperative management of the sleep cycle are important to prevent delirium after oral cancer resection and free flap reconstruction.     

上臂外侧皮瓣在口腔颌面缺损修复中的应用

目的：探讨游离上臂外侧皮瓣（LAFF）在口腔颌面部恶性肿瘤根治术后软组织缺损修复重建中的应用价值。方法：自2012-01～2012-12,应用LAFF修复口腔颌面部肿瘤术后缺损的患者22例,观察记录皮瓣大小、制取时间、血管直径、吻合时间、组织瓣成活情况、手术修复成功率及术后效果,评价其优缺点。结果：皮瓣面积最大14 cm ×8 cm,最小6 cm ×4 cm。术后22例皮瓣均成活,未发生血管危象;并发症少,修复效果满意。结论：LAFF解剖位置恒定,制取简单,能满足常见口腔颌面部肿瘤术后软组织缺损修复。     

穿支皮瓣在口腔颌面部缺损重建中的应用

穿支皮瓣是由以管径细小(0.5~0.8 mm)的穿支血管供血的,包含皮肤或者皮下组织的轴型血管皮瓣.因其具有供区损伤小及受区功能好等特点,穿支皮瓣被广泛应用于口腔颌面部缺损重建修复中.目前,关于穿支皮瓣在口腔颌面部缺损重建中的报道越来越多,但是关于皮瓣术前穿支定位以及皮瓣修复后期削薄方面的研究较少.本文就穿支皮瓣的特点、分类、解剖学基础及其在口腔颌面部缺损修复重建应用中的相关问题作一综述.     

Cost analysis of oral and maxillofacial free flap reconstruction for patients at an institution in China

Free flap transplantation has become a mainstay for the restoration of oral and maxillofacial defects. However, the complexity of the surgical procedure and long hospitalization time result in high hospitalization costs. This study was performed to retrospectively analyse the composition of hospitalization expenses and factors influencing this for 507 patients who underwent oral and maxillofacial free flap transplantation at a representative medical institution in China. The aim was to provide evidence for the reasonable control of expenditure and effective utilization of medical resources, and to gain an indirect reflection of the healthcare model characteristics of public hospitals in China. The average hospitalization cost was found to be US$ 9265 ± 2284. Factors affecting hospitalization expenses were the type of free flap, tracheotomy, postoperative complications, and length of stay. The largest proportion of hospitalization expenses was the cost of materials (44.94%). Although the total hospitalization cost was lower than that in Western countries, the medical burden of patients was higher, and the corresponding medical charges do not fully reflect the value of medical services. We recommend reducing hospitalization expenses and the medical burden by shortening the hospital stay, selecting reasonably priced medical materials, strengthening airway management of patients undergoing tracheotomy, and enhancing the control and treatment of comorbidities in order to reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.     

游离皮瓣移植修复口腔颌面部缺损的临床效果观察

目的探讨游离皮瓣在修复口腔颌面部缺损中的临床应用价值。方法选择2006年03月—2010年08月中国医科大学口腔医学院口腔颌面外科用游离皮瓣修复口腔颌面部缺损病例168例,前臂游离皮瓣90例,股前外侧游离皮瓣39例,腓骨肌皮瓣31例,背阔肌皮瓣8例。术后观察皮瓣成活率和并发症。结果成功164(97.6%)例,失败4例,患者出现术后早期局部并发症6.5%(11/168),术后皮瓣危象发生率为5.4%(9/168),其中静脉血栓形成66.7%(6/9),手术探查抢救成功率55.6%(5/9),前臂桡侧皮瓣成活率97.8%(88/90);股前外侧皮瓣成活率97.4%(38/39);腓骨肌皮瓣成活率96.8%(30/31);背阔肌皮瓣8例全部成活,随访2～2.5年大部分患者外形及功能满意。结论游离皮瓣修复口腔颌面部缺损的成活率高,前臂皮瓣、股前外侧皮瓣、腓骨肌(皮)瓣、背阔肌皮瓣是修复口腔颌面部缺损的常用皮瓣。     

Functional reconstruction and evaluation of oral cavity: flap design and guideline

The radial forearm free flap is a useful reconstructive method of surgical defects after oral and oropharyngeal tumor resection. We evaluated the swallowing and speech outcomes of radial forearm free flap reconstruction for oral and oropharyngeal cancers.     

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目的探讨几种常用带蒂组织瓣行口腔软组织缺损即刻修复的可行性,比较各瓣的优缺点,并为带蒂组织瓣的选择提出建议。方法对武汉大学口腔医学院1985—2006年期间346例口腔恶性肿瘤切除后软组织缺损患者,采用单一带蒂组织瓣行即刻修复的临床资料进行回顾性分析。疗效评估包括修复部位、修复方法、组织瓣大小、手术时间、鼻饲管和气管切开术使用率、皮瓣相关并发症、皮瓣供区美学评价、住院时间及住院费用等。结果组织瓣总成功率为94.2%,其中108例带蒂组织瓣术后出现了不同程度的并发症(31.2%)。并发症发生率与术前放疗关系密切(P<0.05)。鼻饲管及气管切开术的使用率与修复部位有关。在供区美学评价中,颈阔肌皮瓣(87%)和胸锁乳突肌皮瓣(81%)具有较高的满意度。结论胸大肌皮瓣适于修复组织缺损大的口咽以及舌、口底缺损;对于早期口腔癌切除后中小型软组织缺损且术前未行放疗的患者,颈部带蒂组织瓣是一种较好的选择;而对美观要求不高,身体状况欠佳的大面积颊黏膜缺损可采用额瓣修复。     

多种组织瓣在口腔颌面部组织缺损中的应用

目的：总结12种组织瓣整复口腔颌面部软组织缺损的临床应用价值、技术特点及适应症。方法：对68例口腔颌面部大、中型组织缺损的患者，立即用带蒂肌皮瓣和游离组织瓣进行舌、口底、面颊部、腮腺区等部位的修复重建，并对效果进行观察。结果：54块带蒂肌皮瓣成功率为96．3％（52／54），使用最多的是胸大肌皮瓣；17块游离组织瓣成功率为88．3％（15／17），使用最多的是前臂游离皮瓣。所用各类组织瓣修复效果良好。结论：用组织瓣立即整复口腔颌面部组织缺损，可及时恢复口腔颌面部功能，对提高患者生存质量起到积极作用。     

Oral rehabilitation after mandibular reconstruction using an osteocutaneous fibula free flap with endosseous implants. Factors affecting the functional outcome in patients with oral cancer

BACKGROUND: The development of endosseous implants and free vascularized bone grafting has permitted increased possibilities of oromandibular reconstruction in patients with oral cancer. In this study, a concept combining surgical and prosthodontic treatments for mandibular fibula free flap reconstruction after tumor surgery was made based on a classification of bone defects. A follow-up study was performed to evaluate the treatment concept for oral rehabilitation in order to identify possible factors which may influence the functional result. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A follow-up examination included 28 patients who underwent the ablative tumor surgery and mandibular reconstruction during a 4-year period. The follow-up protocol included clinical examination, radiological evaluation, and an interview using a standardized questionnaire. The timing of the study was set to allow for a minimum 2-year follow-up (mean 45 months). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At the time of examination, prosthesis-based oral rehabilitation was completed in six patients (21%), and the prosthodontic work was still unfinished in four other patients. The other 18 had no dental prosthetic rehabilitation. Thirteen patients received a total of 37 oral implants, and 23 implants were functionally loaded. No implant loss was recorded. Oral functions such as speech, diet tolerance and oral competence were not directly affected by the presence of dentures. A decisive factor affecting the oral function was the extent of soft-tissue loss. According to the classification described here, the extent of the mandibular defect did not correlate with oral functions. The application of oral implants seemed to be advantageous for the oral rehabilitation of patients who had undergone intraoral resections.     

Evaluation of swallowing function after intraoral soft tissue reconstruction with microvascular free flaps

This study assessed swallowing function after tumour resection and reconstruction utilizing free vascularized flap closures in patients with oral cancer. Swallowing function was evaluated postoperatively in 23 patients (21 men and 2 women) who had undergone reconstruction with either a lateral upper arm free flap (LUFF, n=16) or a radial forearm free flap (RFFF, n=7). Videofluoroscopy was used to assess tongue mobility and abnormalities of swallowing function.All patients who underwent reconstruction with LUFF or RFFF free flaps had decreased tongue mobility, except for the tip of the tongue. Patients who underwent anterior or posterior resection had greater decreases in tongue mobility than those who underwent medial resection. Swallowing impairment was similar in patients with LUFFs and those with RFFFs. Anterior resection of the oral cavity had a significant negative effect on swallowing function. Silent aspiration occurred in five patients. In conclusion the resection site affected swallowing function, but the type of flap did not, in patients with oral carcinoma, who underwent tumour resection with reconstruction     

游离腹直肌皮瓣在口腔颌面大型缺损Ⅰ期修复中的应用

目的：探讨应用游离腹直肌皮瓣修复口腔颌面部癌术后大型缺损的可行性。方法：对18例口腔颌面部肿瘤切除术后大型缺损即刻游离移植腹直肌皮瓣修复,对临床资料进行分析和总结。结果：随访3～24个月,18例皮瓣完全成活,成活率100％。结论：腹直肌皮瓣游离移植是修复口腔颌面部大型缺损可靠和理想的方法。     

Novel modification of infrahyoid myocutaneous flap for the reconstruction of oral cavity defects

This study was intended to describe the technique used and the results obtained with the modification of the infrahyoid flap (IHF) for the reconstruction of oral tongue defects following resection for advanced squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Patients with oral tongue defects following ablation for T2 to T4a SCC had reconstructions using a modified infrahyoid flap. Demographic data, tumour characteristics, and the complications were evaluated for each patient. We observed no complications regarding the healing process of the donor site or success of the flap in 49 (of 55) patients. None of the flaps had massive oedema or venous congestion in the postoperative period. Six patients experienced flap-related complications of which five had partial skin paddle necrosis, but eventually their flaps recovered and re-epithelialised without any further intervention. However, total flap necrosis was seen in one patient in whom a pectoralis major flap was used for the defect reconstruction following revision surgery. History of previous radiotherapy to the neck (p = 0.003), tumour stage (p = 0.017), and metastasis to cervical lymph nodes (p = 0.004) were associated with higher prevalence of partial or total flap necrosis. The modified infrahyoid flap is a reliable, quick, and simple procedure with a reasonable cost that makes it a valuable option for the reconstruction of the oropharynx and oral cavity with minimal donor site morbidity and good outcomes. It seems the modified IHF is a valid surgical procedure that may be considered in selected patients undergoing reconstruction of oncological oral tongue defects with fewer complications.     

前臂游离皮瓣功能性修复颌面部缺损的临床体会

目的：探讨个体化设计前臂皮瓣修复领面部缺损,以期达到恢复其解剖形态和生理功能的目的。方法：选择舌癌、颊癌、口底癌患者20例,设计前臂皮瓣时,一是根据缺损大小、形状设计其皮肤外形,二是根据桡动脉和头静脉走行,设计皮下筋膜层外形,包括桡动脉和头静脉在内,大于皮肤范围。术后半个月、3个月、6个月评价修复器官的解剖形态、黏膜化程度、发音清晰度、运动及饮食类型等诸方面生理功能。结果：20例皮瓣全部获得成功,术后半个月和3个月有不同程度的皮瓣外形臃肿,6个月后．修复器官解剖形态无臃肿和牵拉,发音较清晰,感觉功能也有不同程度的恢复,大部分患者（18／20）进普食,少部分（2／20）为软食。结论：皮肤和筋膜下设计前臂皮瓣修复颌面部缺损,可以较好恢复颌面部器官的解剖形态和生理功能。     

The role of free flap reconstruction in paediatric caustic burns

Ingestion of caustic soda can cause severe scarring of the oral cavity and the surrounding soft tissues. Free flap reconstruction for burns in the oral cavity has been described as a viable option in adults, but to the best of our knowledge has not been reported in children. We describe cases of successful microvascular reconstruction for burns caused by caustic soda in the oral cavity in children.     

游离股前外侧穿支皮瓣修复口腔颌面部组织缺损18例报告

目的：探讨游离股前外侧穿支皮瓣在口腔颌面部软组织缺损修复重建中的应用价值及效果。方法：分析并评价应用游离股前外侧穿支皮瓣转移修复18例口腔颌面部恶性肿瘤根治术后及颌面部外伤引起的软组织大面积缺损病例的成功率及术后效果。结果：18例皮瓣中,1例术中皮瓣危象抢救成功,1例术后皮瓣危象抢救成功,全部皮瓣成活,成活率为100％。成活皮瓣术后修复效果满意,腿部供区无明显后遗症。结论：游离股前外侧皮瓣血供系统恒定,游离移植皮瓣成功率高,供皮面积大,组织量丰富,对供区影响小,皮瓣大小厚薄具备可控性,是修复口腔颌面部组织缺损的理想皮瓣。     

胸外侧切口锁骨下隧道胸大肌肌筋膜瓣在口腔修复中的应用

目的:采用胸外侧切口锁骨下隧道的胸大肌肌筋膜瓣修复口腔缺损,扩大传统胸大肌肌皮瓣的使用范围。方法:在传统胸大肌肌皮瓣基础上,将胸前壁切口改为胸外侧以增加美观;使用胸大肌及其筋膜替代皮肤,以减轻组织瓣的臃肿,改善血运,避免破坏女性乳房功能和外观;应用锁骨下隧道增加筋膜瓣的旋转半径,并对胸大肌肌筋膜瓣的血供特点、上皮化过程及锁骨下隧道的安全性进行临床观察。结果:肌筋膜瓣27例,26例成活,总成活率96％(26/27)。12例发生不同并发症,占44％(12／27),主要为筋膜瓣部分坏死脱落(5例)和口咽颈部瘘管(3例)。其中4例需局部手术处理(15％),无与锁骨下隧道直接有关的并发症。所使用方法可增加旋转半径5-8cm。筋膜上皮化在术后4周左右完成。结论:所介绍方法可明显增加组织瓣的旋转半径,有效地保存乳房的形态和功能,并使瘢痕位于相对隐蔽位置。该方法可有效扩大传统胸大肌肌皮瓣的使用范围。