Unilateral subcutaneous pedicled nasolabial island flap for anterior mouth floor reconstruction.
OBJECTIVE
This article describes the successful use of unilateral subcutaneous pedicled flaps in the reconstruction of defects of the anterior floor of the mouth by raising the flaps as skin islands, relying on a pedicle of subcutaneous tissue.


METHODS
Nine flap procedures were performed on 9 patients for reconstruction of small defects of the anterior floor of the mouth. One patient underwent secondary reconstruction to release tongue that was functionally tethered anteriorly.


RESULTS
All flaps healed without evidence of infection, dehiscence, or necrosis. This particular choice of unilateral flap seems to provide improved functional integrity of the anterior floor of the mouth.


CONCLUSIONS
The unilateral inferiorly and subcutaneously based nasolabial island flap provides reliable coverage of small and intermediate-sized defects of the anterior floor of the mouth when used alone, improving the tongue mobility, articulation, and deglutition.
Lazaridis
Nikolaos
N
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sugery, G Papanikolaou General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. kostalfi@b-online.gr
D000368:Aged; D003238:Connective Tissue / Q000637:transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009060:Mouth Floor / Q000601:surgery*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000637:transplantation; D009666:Nose / Q000601:surgery; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting; D016896:Treatment Outcome