Wang Kai, Tan Hong-yu, Wu Han-jiang, Zhu Zhao-fu, Liu Jin-bing, Gong Chao-jian
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
Zhonghua Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2009 Sep;44(9):753-7.
To analyze the possibility and practicality of using free anterolateral thigh flap to repair defects of oromaxillo-facial region.
One hundred and seventy-two patients underwent anterolateral thigh flap (ALP) reconstruction from Jan. 2007 to Dec. 2008. The size of the defect ranges from 4 cm x 4 cm to 10 cm x 25 cm. One hundred and six flaps were used for tongue reconstruction, 14 flaps for buccal reconstruction, 15 flaps for mouth floor reconstruction, 1 flap for lower lip and mental region reconstruction, 6 flaps for hard and soft palate reconstruction, 3 flap for maxillary part reconstruction, 18 flaps for submaxilla part reconstruction, 2 flaps for pharynx oralis reconstruction, 3 flaps for repairing large-area defect of facial, 1 flap for repairing neck and shoulder region and 3 flaps for repairing defect of Infratemporal fossa. Of these flaps, 151 were musculocutaneous flaps, 13 were fasciocutaneous flaps and 8 were chimeric flaps.
The success rate reaches 98.3% (169 of 172). Postoperatively, 4 cases encountered vascular crisis, 1 of which survived completely with successful vessel exploration, 3 cases with partial necrosis; and 3 cases with complete necrosis. One case with bleeding after operation. Six cases with parotid fluidly and parotid fistula, 8 cases with mouth floor fistula, 6 cases with infection, 3 cases with infection and partial necrosis on the lateral thigh. All patients achieved acceptable contour, appearance and function.
Free anterolateral thigh flap can repair kinds of complicated defects on oromaxillo-facial region.
