Medial sural artery perforator flap for tongue and floor of mouth reconstruction.
BACKGROUND
The radial forearm flap is frequently considered the first choice for tongue reconstruction, but the disadvantages of donor site morbidity are well known. The search for another thin skin flap as an alternative has led to the application of the medial sural artery perforator flap.


METHODS
We used 12 medial sural artery perforator flaps to reconstruct tongue and floor of mouth following cancer ablation. We paid attention to the major perforator (vein >or= 1 mm) as the vascular relay.


RESULTS
Most flaps were raised with a single perforator. The size of the skin paddle varied from 9 cm x 5 cm to 14 cm x 12 cm. The mean thickness of the flap was 5.2 mm. We reexplored 1 patient for venous insufficiency and could not salvage the flap.


CONCLUSIONS
The thin medial sural artery perforator flap permits high accuracy of tongue restoration and reduces the morbidity at the donor site.
Chen
Shao-Liang
SL
Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan. shaoliang1025@hotmail.com
Chen
Tim-Mo
TM
Dai
Niann-Tzyy
NT
Hsia
Yi-Jan
YJ
Lin
Yaoh-Shiang
YS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005927:Glossectomy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009060:Mouth Floor / Q000601:surgery*; D037981:Neck Dissection; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D014059:Tongue / Q000601:surgery*; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery