title: Submental flap as an alternative to microsurgical flap in intraoral post-oncological reconstruction in the elderly.
abstract: Oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (Scc) occur most commonly in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Free flaps are commonly used for reconstruction of extensive tumor resection defects in the oral cavity. Age alone is not an independent variable for increased risk in microvascular reconstruction; however operative time and ASA risk score correlated with medical complications but not with surgical complications. The submental island flap has proven to be a reliable alternative in reconstruction of composite oral cavity defects for its thinness, pliability and versatility in design, shared by the radial forearm free flap, and its advantageous donor site. The submental flap can be easily raised and involves shorter operative time and hospital stay compared to the free-flap procedure. It can be an excellent choice in patients with a high ASA risk score, moreover in elderly patients, where the potential complications linked to microsurgical procedures are avoided.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Plastic Surgery, University of Naple "Federico II", Via Pansini, 5, 80131, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: fschona@libero.it.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schonauer
authors.affiliation: Unit of Plastic Surgery, University of Naple "Federico II", Via Pansini, 5, 80131, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: annalena.dimartino@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Annalena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Martino
authors.affiliation: Unit of Plastic Surgery, University of Naple "Federico II", Via Pansini, 5, 80131, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: gisenele@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gisella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nele
authors.affiliation: Unit of Plastic Surgery, University of Naple "Federico II", Via Pansini, 5, 80131, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: mariangela_santoro@msn.com.
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santoro
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Pansini, 5, 80131, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: gdorabon@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dell'Aversana Orabona
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Pansini, 5, 80131, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: califano@unina.it.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Califano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000098:blood supply
keywords: Elderly; Intraoral reconstruction; Squamous cell carcinoma; Submental flap; Submental vessels