title: Reverse facial artery-submental artery deepithelialised submental island flap to reconstruct maxillary defects following cancer ablation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study assessed the reliability of the reverse facial artery-submental artery deepithelialised submental island technique to reconstruct maxillary defects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 13 patients (9 men and 4 women; 43-62 years) with maxillary defects resulting from cancer ablation. Ten patients presented with maxillary gingival squamous cell carcinoma and the remaining 3 cases were hard palate squamous cell carcinomas. The maxilla was resected and the remaining defects were classified as Class 2a. Reverse facial artery-submental artery deepithelialised submental island flaps measuring 8-10 cm in length and 4-5 cm in width were used to reconstruct the defects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve of the 13 flaps survived. No donor-site problems or palsy of the marginal mandibular branch of the facial nerve occurred. The follow-up period ranged from 8 to 24 months, 1 patient died as a result of local tumour recurrence and 2 patients developed cervical recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reverse facial artery-submental artery deepithelialised submental island flap is safe, quick and simple to use or elevate. The flap is a reliable technique for reconstructing maxillary defects following cancer ablation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 107 Yan-jiang Road, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Guang
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei-Liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hua-Shan
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Zhao-Hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D002680:Chin / Q000098:blood supply; D004848:Epithelium / Q000601:surgery; D005145:Face / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D005887:Gingival Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010157:Palatal Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply*; D016896:Treatment Outcome