Complications of the myocutaneous platysma flap in intraoral reconstruction.
BACKGROUND
Pedicled myocutaneous flaps remain important tools in head and neck reconstruction. Evaluation of their complications are necessary to judge their merits.


METHODS
From 1985 to 1995, 44 patients underwent a myocutaneous platysma flap reconstruction of the oral cavity or oropharynx. The following potential risk factors for complications were analyzed: age, sex, site of primary tumor, TNM stage, previous treatment, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and type of operation.


RESULTS
Flap-related complications occurred in 18 patients. Only one patient required reoperation for flap failure. Nineteen minor complications occurred in 17 patients. A significant increase in complications was seen in patients in which neoadjuvant chemotherapy was given.


CONCLUSIONS
One flap failure was observed in our series. As the platysma flap has several advantages, it should be considered in the reconstruction of small intraoral defects. Contraindications are previous radiotherapy and surgery in the head and neck, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, nodal disease, and large defects.
Verschuur
H P
HP
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Leiden, The Netherlands.
Dassonville
O
O
Santini
J
J
Vallicioni
J
J
Poissonnet
G
G
Laudoyer
Y
Y
Demard
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012307:Risk Factors; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects*