Free anterolateral thigh flap versus free forearm flap: Functional results in oral reconstruction.
Nowadays, microsurgery performed for oral reconstruction of cancer patients, has become the standard treatment in restoring oral functions. The free radial forearm flap (FRFF) is still apparently the first reconstructive choice in oral cavity cancers. Recently the anterolateral thigh flap (ALTF) seemed to challenge the superiority of FRFF. The lack of functional data on which to base this recent supposition is the reason for this new research. Twenty reconstructed patients were enrolled for this study. Speech, swallowing, and donor site complications were studied to assess differences between the two techniques. Results show that difference in function between ALTF and FRFF groups is statistically insignificant. Donor site risks and complications seem to be the only variables among groups. These variables may be used as indicators when making a surgical choice.
Farace
F
F
Plastic Surgery-Burn Unit Department, University of Sassari, V le S Pietro, Sassari, Italy. farace@uniss.it
Fois
V E E
VE
Manconi
Andrea
A
Puddu
A
A
Stomeo
F
F
Tullio
A
A
Meloni
F
F
Pisanu
G
G
Rubino
C
C
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D005542:Forearm; D006801:Humans; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009055:Mouth / Q000601:surgery*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013065:Speech Intelligibility / Q000502:physiology; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013848:Thigh; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology