Tongue Flap Reconstruction in Cancer of the Oral Cavity

Orocutaneous Fistula After Oral Cavity Resection and Reconstruction: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The statistical heterogeneity was high at I 2 = 70%. Meta-analysis of 1331 patients from 28 evaluable studies 8,9,20,23,28,30,33-36,38-40,42,47,48,50,53-55,57,58,61,64,74,85 showed a pooled risk of OCF of 8.55% (95% CI, 5.71%-11.4%, I 2 = 71.8%) among patients undergoing free flap reconstruction (Figure 3A), compared to 8.02% (95% CI, 5.27%-10.8%, I 2 = 72.7%) among 1449 patients undergoing regional flap reconstruction from 34 evaluable studies 10,13,14,16,19,21,24-26,32,41,44,45,51,56,59,60,62,63,65-67,69,71,73,75,76,78,80,82-84 (Figure 3B). Pooled risk of fistula was 6.74% (95% CI, 4.50%-8.97%, I 2 = 38.6) among 1133 patients undergoing segm...…”

Tongue Flap for Total Full Thickness Upper Lip with Vermillion Reconstruction: Case Report

“…Although the main concern with tongue flap is alteration of speech and swallowing, and some surgeons fear that removal of the tongue tissue may interfere with articulation, these are not observed in our patient. 3,10–14…”

“…Although the main concern with tongue flap is alteration of speech and swallowing, and some surgeons fear that removal of the tongue tissue may interfere with articulation, these are not observed in our patient. 3,[10][11][12][13][14] Complications were cited in previous studies. 4,15 Most experienced minor and temporary complications including pain, swelling, bleeding, hematoma, infection, and temporary loss of taste perception.…”

“…Tongue flaps from the tip are used for lip and floor of the mouth reconstruction. 3,[10][11][12][13][14] The dorsal and lateral tongue flaps, though limited by their short arch of rotation, are reliable options for reconstructing defects of palate, floor of mouth, and buccal mucosa. Even though complications are rare, airway management should be planned out, especially in second stage procedures.…”

Tongue flap revisited

“…Some surgeons fear that removal of the tongue tissue may interfere with articulation; this fear is unwarranted based on our observation and many other. [5,11,12,[15][16][17][18] Speech depends on the mobility of the tongue. Unlike lateral tongue flap, floor of the mouth is not included in dorsal tongue flap, hence tethering or fixation of the tongue does not occur, therefore speech is not affected.…”