title: Reconstruction of medium-sized defects of oral commissure by combining double full-thickness cheek rhomboidal flaps and a small lip switch flap.
abstract: Reconstruction of oral commissure defects aims at securing oral competence and providing an acceptable appearance. The methods described by using either a cross lip flap or a flap from the adjacent cheek skin and mucosa may not be able to achieve such goals if each method is used on its own. We have combined double full-thickness cheek rhomboidal flaps with a small lip switch flap from the remaining lip segment to reconstruct medium-sized full-thickness defects of the oral commissure, following tumor excision in 7 patients. The functional and aesthetic outcomes were assessed by the evaluation of 3 parameters under each category. Each parameter received a score of good, moderate, or poor. Six patients had a good overall functional score. Microstomia was noted only in 1 patient. The overall aesthetic score for all the 7 patients was moderate. In conclusion, reconstruction of medium-sized commissural defects by the present technique achieves adequate oral competence and a satisfactory cosmetic result.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery/Service for Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Fom al khalig, Cairo, Egypt. marifaat25@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mohammed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rifaat
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D002610:Cheek / Q000601:surgery*; D004954:Esthetics; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000601:surgery* / Q000637:transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome