Posterior tibial artery flap versus radial forearm flap in oral cavity reconstruction and donor site morbidity

The repair of soft tissue defects after oral cavity cancer resection is challenging. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes and donor site morbidity of the radial forearm free flap (RFF) and posterior tibial artery perforator flap (PTAF) for oral cavity reconstruction after cancer ablation. All patients who underwent oral cavity reconstruction with a RFF or PTAF between January 2017 and December 2019 were included retrospectively in this study. All flaps were harvested with a long adipofascial extension. The donor site defects were closed with a triangular full-thickness skin graft harvested adjacent to the flap. Flap outcomes and donor site complications were recorded and compared. The study included 145 patients; 30 underwent reconstruction with a RFF and 115 with a PTAF. No significant difference between the PTAF and RFF was observed concerning the flap survival rate (98.3% vs 96.7%), flap harvest time (53.39 vs 49.28 min), hospital stay (12.3 vs 15.2 days), or subjective functional and cosmetic outcomes. The PTAF showed a larger vascular calibre (P < 0.05), greater flap thickness (P = 0.002), and lower frequency of surgical site infection (P = 0.055) when compared to the RFF. No significant difference was observed between the pre- and postoperative ranges of ankle and wrist movements. The PTAF is an excellent alternative to the RFF for the repair of oral cavity defects, with the additional advantages of a well-hidden scar on the lower extremity, larger vascular calibre, and lower frequencies of postoperative donor site morbidities.     

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.     

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.     

Temporalis muscle flap for craniofacial reconstruction after tumor resection

Temporalis muscle flap provides a good solution for the reconstruction of craniofacial defects after tumor resection. Nine patients with complicated defects located at the upper two thirds of the face, anterior cranial base, or mastoid region are presented. Five patients had orbital exenteration, two with total maxillectomy and two with anterior craniofacial resection. Temporalis muscle flap provided profuse well-vascularized tissue for the obliteration of orbital exenteration and total maxillectomy cavities and coverage of surface defects. Cranial, oral, and nasal spaces were separated successfully in all patients. Temporalis muscle flap is a very reliable technique with low complication rates and few donor site problems. This safe and technically easy flap can be preferred for the reconstruction of craniofacial defects after ablative tumor surgery, especially in older and debilitated patients.     

Pedicle tongue flap for closure of an oroantral defect after partial maxillectomy.

The position, size, and composition of the tongue make it ideal as a potential donor site for repair of certain oral defects. Adherence to principles of sound flap design must be followed. A technique for closure of large oroantral communications with use of a pedicled graft from the lateral border of the tongue has been described. This procedure provides the patient with immediate repair of the defect, while maintaining the relatively normal anatomic architecture of the oral cavity. We believe that this technique is also applicable to closure of other types of oroantral defects in addition to those described.     

Prelamination of the latissimus dorsi flap for reconstruction in head and neck surgery

Free microsurgical tissue transfer of the latissimus dorsi flap may be indicated for the restoration of intra- and extraoral defects, especially when a large-sized skin island flap is required. In many cases, use of the latissimus dorsi flap for coverage of large-sized intraoral defects results in bulkiness due to the proportion of subcutaneous fat. Prelamination of free flaps appears to be a promising technique to overcome this flap bulkiness. This modification in flap design could improve the postoperative functional outcome, as well as reduce donor site morbidity. This article presents four novel clinical cases, in which the patients underwent prelamination of the latissimus dorsi flap with local skin grafts during oral cancer treatment in order to reduce the thickness of the free flap and allow tension-free primary closure of the donor site. These attempts successfully covered large-sized intraoral defects, achieving good functional outcomes with minimal donor site morbidity.     

颏下岛状皮瓣与前臂皮瓣修复口腔鳞癌术后缺损的比较

目的：比较颏下岛状皮瓣与游离前臂皮瓣修复口腔鳞癌术后缺损的结果。方法：2009年5月~2011年8月,69例口腔鳞癌术后缺损采用颏下岛状皮瓣或游离前臂皮瓣修复,比较2种修复方法的皮瓣大小、手术时间、住院时间、并发症、口腔功能恢复及复发情况。结果：69例患者中,采用颏下岛状皮瓣修复32例,游离前臂皮瓣修复37例。颏下岛状皮瓣组与游离前臂皮瓣组在平均皮瓣大小（32.78cm2 VS 48.27cm2）、平均手术时间（351min VS 508min）、平均住院日（13.06dVS 17.48d）等均有统计学差异（P〈0.001）;两组患者总的并发症发生相似,但颏下岛状皮瓣组发生颌下区积液的比例较高（P〈0.05）;两组患者在术后口腔功能恢复及肿瘤复发方面无差异。结论：颏下岛状皮瓣修复可明显缩短手术时间及患者住院时间,可作为口腔鳞癌术后中小型缺损修复的首选。     

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.     

延长颏下动脉穿支皮瓣血管蒂修复口腔颌面部缺损的临床应用

目的:本研究通过延长颏下动脉穿支皮瓣(submental artery perforator flap,SMAPF)血管蒂的3种方法修复口腔颌面部距供区较远的缺损,并对其可行性及临床效果评价.方法:选取自2019年1月—2021年2月于中国医科大学附属口腔医院颌面头颈肿瘤外科就诊并收治,行同侧颏下动脉穿支皮瓣手术修复口...     

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。     

延长下斜方肌皮瓣修复复发性口腔癌术后缺损

目的探讨复发性口腔癌手术后口腔颌面部软组织缺损修复的理想方法.方法对6例复发性口腔鳞状细胞癌患者（舌、口底和颊部各2例）手术治疗,缺损区同期用延长下斜方肌岛状肌皮瓣修复.结果全部皮瓣成活,供区创口一期愈合,无肩臂运动功能障碍.经追踪观察,最长存活30个月,最短13个月,平均生存期为22.6个月.结论延长下斜方肌岛状肌皮瓣制作较简单,设计和转移灵活且皮瓣足够大,可作为复发肿瘤手术后大范围软组织缺损的修复材料.     

Repair of the radial free flap donor site with full or partial thickness skin grafts. A prospective randomised controlled trial

The radial forearm free flap has become the mainstay in the reconstruction of soft tissue defects following ablative resection in the oral cavity. The method of repair of the associated forearm tissue defect has been the subject of considerable debate. The options range from direct closure, to local soft tissue flaps or skin graft repair. Larger defects usually require a skin graft and we have routinely used partial thickness skin. An audit of our complication rate led to the consideration of whether a full thickness repair would reduce the morbidity. We randomly allocated successive patients to receive full or partial thickness skin graft repair of the radial donor site in a consecutive series of 68 patients over an 18-month period. Sixty-four patients completed the initial assessment period of wound healing. Thirty seven patients completed a questionnaire at one year to subjectively assess the aesthetic appearance of the forearm wound and the skin graft donor site. They were also assessed for pain at both sites. The partial thickness donor site required significantly more re-dressings. There was no significant difference between the two groups in graft take or number of re-dressings at the recipient site. There was no significant difference in patient assessment of aesthetic appearance or pain in either the forearm recipient site or the skin graft donor site. Provided that an adequate graft is taken, full thickness and partial thickness skin grafts have the same short-term and long-term outcomes in the repair of the radial free flap donor site.     

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??The ulnar forearm perforator flap has been used for reconstruction of various oral and maxillofacial-head and neck defects for about 30 years. Besides having the advantages of radial forearm perforator flap??the ulnar forearm perforator flap has some other advantages??including the possibility of direct closure of the donor defect??reduced morbidity??excellent donor site cosmesis??less hairy skin of the transplant and flexible design of the skin island??and independent skin islands may be created as required. These characteristics make it appropriate for patients to accept. Clinically??different sizes of flaps can be selected according to the size of the defected site. Because of the high survival rate and low donor-site morbidity??and its advantages in beauty and function??the ulnar forearm perforator flap plays a very important role in the repair of oral and maxillofacial-head and neck defects.     

Use of Nasolabial Flap in Intra and Extraoral Reconstruction: Our Experience with 40 Cases

Purpose

This article represents the use of inferiorly based nasolabial flap in reconstruction of various intraoral and extraoral defects.

Patients and Methods

Nasolabial flaps were performed in 40 patients, for reconstruction of buccal mucosa, gingivobuccal sulcus, commissure, lower lip, floor of mouth, upper lip and lower alveolar defects.

Results

The most common defect site in the oral cavity was the buccal mucosa. Partial flap necrosis occurred in five patients. Out of 40 cases of carcinoma of lip, commissure and floor of the mouth, all the patients had good speech after complete healing of the wound. None of the patients who had lip or commissure reconstruction developed drooling of saliva due to lip incompetence.

Conclusion

The inferiorly based nasolabial flap provides reliable coverage of intermediate-sized oral cavity defects when used alone. Minimal donor morbidity is associated with its use. It is especially useful in elderly patients with facial skin laxity and where esthetics is not a major concern.     

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.     

前臂皮瓣与胸大肌皮瓣在口腔癌手术缺损修复中的应用

目的:观察前臂皮瓣和胸大肌皮瓣修复口腔癌手术缺损的治疗效果。方法:30例口腔癌患者在常规联合根治术后,随机分为A、B组,每组15例。A组采用前臂桡侧皮瓣游离移植同期修复口腔癌术后口腔颌面部缺损,B组采用胸大肌皮瓣同期修复口腔癌术后口腔颌面部组织缺损;对比两组的修复效果。结果:A组13例(86.67%)前臂皮瓣顺利成活,B组皮瓣成活率100%。A组中有6例患者虎口感觉消失、4例患者供区颜色极深或极浅;B组中有4例女性患者术后两侧乳房不对称。结论:前臂皮瓣和胸大肌皮瓣修复口腔癌手术缺损均具有较高的成功率,两种皮瓣均适用于口腔癌手术缺损修复。     

Platysma Flap: An Alternative to Free Flaps

Objective

The objective of this paper is to show that platysma flaps have good results and should be an alternative in reconstructive surgery for oral tumors when microsurgery is not possible. It is a versatile, portable, and thin flap, is easy to perform, and can be obtained during neck dissection, with a primary closure of the donor site.

Methods

Five cases are presented, three men and two women, 51 and 71 years old, with medium size (2–4 cm) defects of oral cavity after the excision of squamous cell carcinomas. All of them were reconstructed with a platysma flap after neck dissection. This reconstruction technique was chosen because of the poor conditions of these patients to allow a microsurgical reconstruction.

Results

Non-local complications occurred with this technique. Overall aesthetic results were acceptable in all the patients. There were no cases of total necrosis flap, dehiscence, fistula or fibrosis. Only one case of partial necrosis occurred in one end of the flap, which was resolved with excision of necrotic tissue and closure by secondary intention.

Conclusion

The platysma flap is a good method to reconstruct small and medium sized defects of oral cavity, especially in patients where a microsurgery reconstruction is not possible.     

Extended vertical lower trapezius island myocutaneous flap in reconstruction of oral and maxillofacial defects after salvage surgery for recurrent oral carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore an effective repair method for oral and maxillofacial soft-tissue defects after salvage surgery for patients with recurrent oral carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eight patients (6 females and 2 males, mean age, 56.9 years) with recurrent oral squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue (n = 4), oral cavity floor (n = 2), and buccal (n = 2) were treated with salvage surgery, and the oral and maxillofacial soft-tissue defects were reconstructed primarily by extended vertical lower trapezius island myocutaneous flap. RESULTS: No flap failure occurred. The donor sites were closed primarily. There were no disabilities with regard to shoulder motion. Followed up after the operation, the survival period of the patients was 6 to 30 months and the average survival period was 13.1 months. There was 1 recurrent case. All of the patients survived. CONCLUSION: The extended vertical lower trapezius island myocutaneous flap, which is a simple, reliable and large flap, can be preferred as a salvage procedure for oral and maxillofacial soft-tissue defects after salvage surgery for patients with recurrent oral squamous cell carcinoma.     

Versatility of nasolabial flaps in oral cavity reconstructions

Objectives: Describe the techniques involved and the results obtained witn nasolabial flaps in small and medium-sized defects of the oral cavity. The procedure is an easy resconstructive option with a high success rate and with very good aesthetic and functional outcomes. Study Design: A retrospective analysis of 16 nasolabial flap reconstructions in 15 oncological patients with oral cavity defects undergoing single-stage surgical interventions. We evaluate the tumor type, its location, size, the resective and reconstructive techniques involved, as well as any complications. Results: Out of 15 patients, 9 were male and 6 female, with ages ranging from 60-85 years. The primary tumor was located in the mandibular or maxillary gingiva in 7 patients, the lateral margin of the tongue in 5, the floor of the mouth in 3 and the mandibular symphysis in a single patient. The tumors were of a small to medium size. All patients underwent intraoral resections. In most cases, a cervical dissection was performed. All flaps were completed as single-stage surgical interventions, with 14 unilateral and 2 bilateral procedures. Five patients had received radiotherapy treatment for previous tumors. During the follow up period, which ranged from 4 months to 8 years, only one patient required their flap to be thinned, there were two incidents of surgical wound dehiscence, two hematomas and one orocutaneous fistula, none of which affected the survival of the flap. Conclusions: The nasolabial flap proves highly versatile in oral cavity reconstructions, coupled with a minimal morbidity of the donor region and good aesthetic and functional results. Its high vascularity allows for cervical dissections to be carried out or even for radiotherapy to be administered prior to it. It is straightforward, safe, and carrying it out as a single-stage intervention makes it the ideal surgical option for small to medium intraoral defects in edentulous patients with other comorbidities. Key words:Nasolabial flap, oral cavity reconstruction, oral cavity defects.     

前臂桡侧游离皮瓣在口腔颌面外科的应用——附725例临床分析

目的详细阐述前臂桡侧游离皮瓣的应用解剖、制作技术、在口腔颌面外科的应用及新近研究进展。方法对我科自１９７９年以来，７２５例应用前臂桡侧游离皮瓣修复口腔颌面部各类缺损的病例，进行了临床分析。结果前臂桡侧游离皮瓣质地优良、血供可靠已及切取方便，总成功率达９６．６％；主要缺点是牺牲前臂的一条主供血管—桡动脉，供区疤痕明显，影响美观。结论前臂桡侧游离皮瓣是口腔颌面外科应用最多皮瓣，也是修复口腔颌面部软组织缺损的首选皮瓣。