title: [The extended free lateral arm flap for buccal soft tissue reconstruction after buccal cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summary the application of the extended free lateral arm flaps for buccal soft tissue reconstruction after buccal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January to August 2011, three patients underwent the operation of buccal defect reconstruction using the extended free lateral arm flap in one-stage. PRCA was identification with the Doppler probe. According to the mark of PRCA, size and shape of defects, the flaps were designed and extended to the lateral epicondyle of humerus. The flap size ranged from 9 cm x 5 cm to 10 cm x 6 cm with a pedicle of 10 cm in length. The wounds at donor sites were closed directly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Vascular crisis happened in one case due to local negative pressure, which resolved after emergency management. All the flaps survived completely. The patients were followed up for 6 to 10 months with no recurrence. Both the esthetic and functional results were satisfactory. Two cases suffered from numb feeling in donor sites which alleviated six months later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The extended free lateral arm flap has reliable blood supply with appropriate thickness. It is an optional method for reconstruction of buccal defects after ablation of buccal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Institude of Stomatology, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xu-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiu-Juan
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qin-Gang
authors.initials: QG
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000601:surgery; D002610:Cheek / Q000601:surgery*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps