Extended vertical lower trapezius island myocutaneous flap in reconstruction of oral and maxillofacial defects after salvage surgery for recurrent oral carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to explore an effective repair method for oral and maxillofacial soft-tissue defects after salvage surgery for patients with recurrent oral carcinoma.


METHODS
Eight patients (6 females and 2 males, mean age, 56.9 years) with recurrent oral squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue (n = 4), oral cavity floor (n = 2), and buccal (n = 2) were treated with salvage surgery, and the oral and maxillofacial soft-tissue defects were reconstructed primarily by extended vertical lower trapezius island myocutaneous flap.


RESULTS
No flap failure occurred. The donor sites were closed primarily. There were no disabilities with regard to shoulder motion. Followed up after the operation, the survival period of the patients was 6 to 30 months and the average survival period was 13.1 months. There was 1 recurrent case. All of the patients survived.


CONCLUSIONS
The extended vertical lower trapezius island myocutaneous flap, which is a simple, reliable and large flap, can be preferred as a salvage procedure for oral and maxillofacial soft-tissue defects after salvage surgery for patients with recurrent oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Chen
Wei-Liang
WL
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. drchen@vip.136.com
Li
Jingsong
J
Yang
Zhaohui
Z
Huang
Zhiquan
Z
Wang
Jianguang
J
Zhang
Bin
B
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000601:surgery*; D009333:Neck / Q000098:blood supply; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D012782:Shoulder / Q000601:surgery; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply