[Clinical study of submental artery island myocutaneous flap for reconstruction of oral and maxillofacial defects following operation].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the outcome and indication of the reconstruction of oral and maxillofacial postoperative defects by submental artery island myocutaneous flaps.


METHODS
Sixty eight cases with the reconstruction of oral and maxillofacial defects by submental artery island myocutaneous flaps from January 2006 to May 2010 were analysed retrospectively. Primary lesions included carcinomas originating from tongue (28 cases), palate (13 cases), mouth floor (9 cases), gingiva (4 cases), buccal mucosa (6 cases), lip (3 cases), and other malignant or benign tumors (5 cases). The ages ranged from 25 to 84 years (mean 58 years); 47 males and 21 females. The sizes of skin paddle varied from a minimum of 4 cm × 4 cm to a maximum of 15 cm × 10 cm.


RESULTS
Of the 68 flaps, 62 were survival, 4 had partial necrosis but healed with treatments, and 2 failed due to complete necrosis. Appearance and functions of recipient sites were satisfactory. The followed-up time was 3 - 24 months, local recurrence occurred in 5 cases and cervical lymph node metastases were found in 15 patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Submental island flap is reliable for the reconstruction of postoperative defects in early oral cancer without regional lymph node metastasis or in benign tumor.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, SUN Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.
Cui-cui
CC
ZHANG
Jian-guang
JG
WANG
Zhi-liang
ZL
YUE
Hong-zhang
HZ
HUANG
Wei-liang
WL
CHEN
Chao-bin
CB
PAN
Jin-song
JS
LI
Bin
B
ZHANG
Zhao-hui
ZH
YANG
Zhi-quan
ZQ
HUANG
Xiao-peng
XP
ZHAO
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps