title: [Neurovascular infrahyoid muscle fascia flap for tongue and pharynx reconstruction. Postoperative histologic long-term follow-up].
abstract: After surgical treatment of cancer, reconstruction of large defects in the oral cavity or pharynx with myocutaneous island flaps will often lead to cicatrical shrinkage of the transplant. To avoid further loss of function we used a neurovascular infrahyoid muscle flap for reconstruction of large muscular defects in the mouth or pharynx. The advantages of this neurovascular flap were voluntary muscular contractions and reduced shrinkage of the flap's volume compared with myocutaneous island flaps alone. In this study we examined the characteristics of the transplanted muscles at 6 weeks, 7 months and 11 months after surgery. Biopsies were taken from the transplanted infrahyoid muscles and examined with light and electron microscopy. To identify nerves an immunofluorescence method was used. In the specimens taken several months postoperatively no atrophy or degeneration of the musculature could be seen. As a possible consequence of tenectomy an irregular arrangement of the myofibrils was noted. Nerves were found in all biopsies that served as further evidence for a functioning musculature.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde, Lübeck.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Sommer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rumpel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Remmert
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Krammer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sommer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005927:Glossectomy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010611:Pharyngectomy / Q000379:methods; D010614:Pharynx / Q000473:pathology; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000473:pathology*; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*