Use of a folded reverse facial-submental artery submental island flap to reconstruct soft palate defects following cancer ablation.

INTRODUCTION

Although several techniques have been described for the repair of soft palate defects, soft palate reconstruction remains challenging. This study was performed to evaluate swallowing and speech functions in patients undergoing placement of folded reverse facial-submental artery submental island flaps (FRFF) to reconstruct soft palate defects following cancer ablation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

FRFFs were designed for eight patients with soft palate defects resulting from soft palatal squamous cell carcinoma ablation. The clinical stages of tumours were I in two patients, II in four patients, and III in two patients. FRFFs were created to reconstruct soft palate defects. Swallowing and speech functions were evaluated 3 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

One minor flap failure occurred, but all flaps survived. No donor-site problem occurred. Five patients managed ingestion of a solid diet, two managed a soft diet, and one remained on a liquid diet. Six patients achieved normal speech, one achieved intelligible speech, and one retained slurred speech. The patients were followed for 8-48 months; seven patients were living with no evidence of disease, and one was living with disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The FRFF is reliable for soft palate defect reconstruction following cancer ablation and can achieve satisfactory swallowing and speech functions.