Functional and aesthetic reconstruction of full-thickness cheek, oral commissure and vermilion.
OBJECTIVE
This paper presents surgical techniques for reconstruction of the cheek, oral commissure and vermillion in the repair of full-thickness cheek defects after resection of buccal-mucosal squamous cell carcinoma.


METHODS
Four reconstructions in one-stage surgery with either a free radial forearm flap or a rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap for cheek and oral commissure were carried out. There were combined with a new approach for vermillion advancement flaps. Most challenging was the need not only for morphological reconstruction of the orifice, but also for physiological reestablishment of sphincteric and sensory functions in the vermillion.


RESULTS
Morphological and physiological reconstruction of the lip with sphincteric and sensory functions was attained.


CONCLUSIONS
This valuable reconstruction technique was demonstrated in large, full thickness defects involving the cheek, oral commissure and vermilion.
Yokoo
S
S
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. kanako45@aurora.ocn.nejp
Tahara
S
S
Tsuji
Y
Y
Nomura
T
T
Hashikawa
K
K
Hanagaki
H
H
Furudoi
S
S
Umeda
M
M
Komori
T
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D002610:Cheek / Q000601:surgery*; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000601:surgery; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000637:transplantation; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000637:transplantation; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome