title: [Early effectiveness of combining radial forearm free flap and adjacent tissue flap in reconstruction of palatomaxillary defects].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the method of combining radial forearm free flap and adjacent tissue flap in reconstruction of palatomaxillary defects and its effectiveness.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 2005 and May 2010, 17 patients with palatomaxillary defects were treated. There were 11 males and 6 females with an age range of 45-74 years (mean, 62.5 years), including 1 case of benign tumor and 16 cases of malignant tumors (7 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of palate, 1 case of recurring squamous cell carcinoma of palate, 1 case of malignant melanoma of palate, 1 case of adenoid cystic carcinoma of palate, 1 case of malignant melanoma of maxilla, 1 case of ductal carcinoma of maxilla, and 4 cases of squamous cell carcinoma of maxilla). The maxillectomy defect ranged from 7.0 cm x 5.5 cm to 10.0 cm x 7.5 cm. According to Brown's classification for the maxillectomy defect, there were type II in 15 cases, type III in 2 cases. Palatomaxillary defects were repaired with radial forearm free flap and buccal fat pad in 11 cases, and with radial forearm free flap, buccal fat pad, and mandibular osteomuscular flap pedicled with temporal muscle in 6 cases. The effectiveness was evaluated after operation by observing the vitality of the flap, the functions of speech, swallowing, breath, and the facial appearance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All cases were followed up 6-12 months without tumor recurrence. All flaps and skin grafts at donor sites survived. The functions of speech, swallowing, and breath were normal without obvious opening limitation. The facial appearance was satisfactory without obvious maxillofacial deformity. No enophthalmos occurred in patients with orbital floor and infraorbital rim defects. The patients had no oronasal fistula with satisfactory oral and nasal functions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the type of palatomaxillary defects, it can have good early effectiveness to select combining radial forearm free flap and buccal fat pad or combining radial forearm free flap, buccal fat pad, and mandibular osteomuscular flap for repairing defects.
authors: Department of Stomatology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu Anhui 233004, PR China.
authors: Yongfeng
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Zhang
authors: Jiancheng
authors: J
authors: Li
authors: Jingcheng
authors: J
authors: Xu
authors: Shengkai
authors: S
authors: Liao
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Xu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000293:injuries; D008441:Maxillary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010159:Palate / Q000293:injuries; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D019737:Transplants; D016896:Treatment Outcome