title: Extended vertical lower trapezius island myocutaneous flap for reconstruction of cranio-maxillofacial defects.
abstract: This study explored an effective method for repairing cranio-maxillofacial soft-tissue defects following radical craniofacial surgery in four patients with malignant tumours involving the skull base and frontal region. The large cranio-maxillofacial soft-tissue defects were reconstructed using an extended vertical lower trapezius island myocutaneous flap based on the transverse cervical artery. The flap was 8-12 cm long and 5-7 cm wide. No major flap failure occurred, and there was no shoulder dysfunction. The patients were followed for 3-12 months. One patient suffered a local recurrence, and another died of lung metastasis 12 months postoperatively. The extended vertical lower trapezius island myocutaneous flap is a simple, reliable and large flap. It is preferred for reconstructing cranio-maxillofacial soft-tissue defects when a pedicled flap is used following craniofacial surgery for cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, 107 Yan-jiang Road, Guangzhou, 510120 Guangdong Province, China. drchen@vip.136.com
authors.forename: W-l
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Y-f
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: G-g
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: J-s
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Z-h
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Z-b
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Z-q
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: J-g
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries; D005145:Face / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000637:transplantation; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012782:Shoulder / Q000601:surgery; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply