Surgical techniques and results of lateral thoracic cutaneous, myocutaneous, and conjoint flaps for head and neck reconstruction

BACKGROUND: This paper aims at presentation of our surgical techniques and results of the lateral thoracic (LT) flaps for head and neck reconstructions. METHOD: There were seven LT cutaneous, seven LT myocutaneous, and two LT conjoint myocutaneous flaps for reconstruction of head and neck mucosal or cutaneous defects. RESULTS: The largest flap size was 22 cm x 13 cm. All donor sites were closed primarily. The highest point of reconstruction was in the nasopharynx internally and zygoma externally. All flaps survived without major complication. CONCLUSIONS: The LT flap has the versatility of cutaneous, myocutaneous, and conjoint flaps with pectoralis major or latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flaps to reconstruct large surgical defects. It has a large, reliable surface area, a long pedicle to reach nasopharynx and zygoma, and has less bulky muscle to facilitate tubular reconstruction of circumferential pharyngeal defect, one-stage operation, esthetic hidden donor site scar in axillary region, and minimal donor site morbidity. It is an additional reliable pedicle flap in our armamentarium for reconstruction of both cutaneous and mucosal defects in the head and neck region.