Donor site morbidity using the buccinator myomucosal island flap.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to analyze our experience with donor site morbidity after harvesting a buccinator myomucosal island flap (BUMIF) for reconstructing surgical defects involving the tongue and floor of the mouth after oncological resections in 15 consecutive patients.


METHODS
Donor site morbidity was evaluated using 5 parameters: mouth opening, oral commissure symmetry, inner vestibule restoration, cheek mucosal lining, and the esthetic result. The clinical evaluation was performed by a blinded panel of 2 clinicians and the patient him- or herself, assessing each parameter with a score ranging from 0 to 3. The 3 scores for each parameter were summed to obtain a score reflecting the overall parameter assessment.


RESULTS
The mean mouth opening score was 8.6 out of a maximum of 9 (range, 6-9). The mean commissure symmetry was 8.6 (range, 7-9), the mean inferior vestibule score was 8 (range, 6-9), the mean cheek lining score was 8.2 (range, 7-9), and the mean final esthetic score was 8.5 (range, 6-9).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this retrospective evaluation demonstrate that when special care is taken in the management of the BUMIF donor site, its morbidity is extremely low, allowing optimal functional and cosmetic results and confirming the major role of this flap in reconstructing moderate-size defects following tongue and floor of the mouth resections.
Ferrari
Silvano
S
Maxillo-Facial Surgery Division, Head and Neck Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Ferri
Andrea
A
Bianchi
Bernardo
B
Copelli
Chiara
C
Boni
Pietro
P
Sesenna
Enrico
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D002610:Cheek / Q000601:surgery*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology; D004954:Esthetics; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000637:transplantation*; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009060:Mouth Floor / Q000601:surgery; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology / Q000637:transplantation*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome