Objective: To describe the application of lateral arm free flap (LAFF) in reconstruction of defects in the oral and maxillofacial regions following ablative oncological surgery. Subjects and Methods: The study included 16 patients (13 male, 3 female, mean age 56, range 35–69 years). Sixteen LAFF were harvested to reconstruct defects caused by the dissection of malignant tumors of the oral and maxillofacial regions. The tumor was squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue (6 cases), floor of the mouth (4), retromolar area (3), inner cheek (2), and lower gingival (1). Flap sizes ranging from 5 × 7 to 6 × 9 cm were harvested using a sterile tourniquet for bloodless technique. The anastomoses were carried out using a magnifier or microscope. All donor defects were closed primarily. Results: Fourteen flaps healed without venous insufficiency. One flap, in a female patient, survived with mild local microcirculatory obstruction but that of another female patient developed necrosis. There was no significant complication at the donor sites. The advantages of this flap include anatomically reliable vascular supply, accessible donor site, and the aesthetic quality of donor tissue is good. Compared with the radial artery, the posterior radial collateral artery is a nonessential vessel of the arm. The disadvantages are the relatively smaller vessel size for anastomosis and thicker subcutaneous tissue. Conclusions: For the repair of moderate-sized defects of the maxillofacial area, especially in male patients, the LAFF can be recommended.
Background: A modified radial forearm free flap was designed to rehabilitate function and to reduce the complications at both donor and recipient sites. Methods: Between 2003 and 2007, 15 patients with infiltrating squamous cell carcinoma (T3–T4) of the tongue and/or floor of the mouth underwent hemiglossectomy and resection of the floor of the mouth with microvascular reconstruction using a modified radial forearm flap. The mean size of the forearm flap was 7.5 × 14 cm, and the de-epithelialized area was 7 × 6 cm, requiring no skin graft from the abdomen. Speech intelligibility tests were administered to test postoperative speech and the functional oral intake scale was applied to assess the postoperative swallowing function, and patients reconstructed with pectoralis major myocutaneous flap were used for comparison. Results: All the flaps were successfully transferred. No obvious complications were found in either the oral-maxillofacial or forearm region. The speech intelligibility was better in the modified flap group (p < 0.01). An acceptable swallowing function was also achieved, although the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The modified flap used for reconstructing large defects of the tongue and floor of the mouth might be a valid substitute for pectoralis major myocutaneous flap to improve the outcome in individuals with significant oral carcinoma.
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