[Repairing defects of tongue and mouth floor with submental island flap after tumor surgery].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical significance of submental island flap in repairing tongue defects.

METHODS

Nine patients (6 men and 3 women) with tongue squamous cell carcinoma underwent subtotal or partial glossectomy, resection of mandible, radical neck dissection and immediate reconstruction of tongue defects with submental island flap. The age ranged from 48 years to 71 years, the lesion locations were right part of tongue (5 cases) and left part of tongue (4 cases). The defect sizes were 4.2 cm x 3.2 cm to 5.5 cm x 4.0 cm. The flap area ranged from 6.0 cm x 3.0 cm to 7.0 cm x 4.0 cm. The flap pedicle included submental artery in 8 cases and both submental artery and facial artery in 1 case.

RESULTS

The submental island flap survived in 8 cases. Postoperative articulation and swallowing were investigated in all cases. The static shape of tongue after reconstruction with submental island flap was acceptable. The dynamic speech, swallowing and food transport function were well preformed. No complication occurred. Three patients were given radiotherapy 3 weeks after operation.

CONCLUSION

It is simple and convenient to repair defects of tongue and oral floor with submental island flap.