title: Sling suspension using the anterior third of the temporalis muscle extended with tendon graft to correct oral incontinence after free flap reconstruction in cases of a major defect of the lower lip muscle.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral incontinence is a common complication after free flap reconstruction after ablation of oral cancers. The postoperative incontinence was corrected with strong suspension to the temporalis muscle in cases of major or total defect of lower lip muscles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight patients with oral cancer with previous skin flaps for reconstruction of the lower lip had incontinence because of major or total loss of the lower lip muscle. A tendon graft was used as a suspension sling sutured to the anterior third of the bilateral temporalis muscle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oral continence without drooling was achieved by suspension of the temporalis muscle with free movement of the lower lip.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is a good option for correcting the incontinence after major or total loss of lower lip muscles in patients with oral cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tsung-Chun
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tzong-Shiun
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hui-Ching
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ka-Wai
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ciudad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pedro
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Matthew Sze-Wei
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hung-Chi
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006801:Humans; D008046:Lip / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013703:Temporal Muscle / Q000601:surgery*; D013710:Tendons / Q000637:transplantation*
keywords: major defect of lower lip muscle; oral incontinence; sling suspension; temporalis muscle; tendon graft