[The indications for reconstruction of the oral cavity using a pedicled flap of the musculus pectoralis major].

The reconstruction of postoperative or post-radiotherapeutic losses of substance in the oral cavity must respond to a number of basic requirements, such as lingual motility, the conservation of the labiogingival groove and adequate drainage of saliva towards the pharynx. This study reports the authors' experience of the reconstruction of the oral cavity using a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. The identification of anatomic structures, such as the interpectoral compartment which separates the deep folium of the pectoralis major muscle from the clavi-coraco-axillary fascia covering the smaller pectoral muscle. Is indispensable for the correct preparation of the flap. Using an oblique incision along the lateral margin of the pectoralis major muscle the edge of the muscle is revealed and the muscle is separated from the pectoralis minor and from the costosternal structure. The cutaneous island is formed using the deep level of the muscle, and after tunnelling into the subcutaneous plane of the superficial fascia in the deltopectoral region, the flap is overturned to reach the part of the surgical reconstruction. The transposed tissue is sutured at various levels so as to reduce traction on a single component of the flap and to preserve the integrity of the perforating vessels. A total of 16 reconstructions of the oral cavity were performed by the authors using a pedunculated flap from the pectoralis major muscle. Fourteen of these cases were advanced stages of cancer and two were the outcome of radiotherapy. A myofascial flap was used in one case due to the excessive thickness of the subcutaneous panniculus of fat, whereas in the other cases it was not necessary to involve the cutaneous component which guarantees better functional adaptation. The following results were obtained: the metaplasia of the cutaneous surfaces of the flap into a multi-stratified non-keratinized epithelium and the contemporary reduction of cutaneous adnexa. The best functional recovery was observed using myocutaneous flaps compared to the case with the myofascial flap. Other results included: flap versatility in the reconstruction of the region of the retromolar trigonum and antero-lateral oral floor, and lastly the difficulty of performing a correct plastic surgery of the soft palate in those cases with damage in the tonsillar region and consequent rhinolalia. Complications observed, attributable to lesions of the perforating vessels, included two cases of total necrosis of the cutaneous component of the flap and four cases of partial necrosis which were resolved using local reclamation and medication.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)