Bipaddled radial forearm flap for the reconstruction of bilateral buccal defects in oral submucous fibrosis

Abstract

Oral submucous fibrosis can result in progressive closure of the mouth. A total of 10 patients with advanced oral submucous fibrosis were surgically treated. The procedure consisted of (1) release of all the intraoral fibrotic tissue, (2) masticatory muscle myotomy and coronoidotomy, and (3) reconstruction with a bipaddled radial forearm flap. Preoperative mouth opening was 0–5 mm (mean 2.3 mm). The intraoperative mouth opening was 12–20 mm (mean 16 mm) after submucous release, and 32–42 mm (mean 35.5 mm) after further release via myotomy and coronoidotomy. The proximal flap included one perforator in four patients and two perforators in the remaining six patients. The flaps were 8–9 cm in length and 2–2.5 cm in width. Nine flaps survived uneventfully. Arterial thrombosis was noted in one flap, which was successfully salvaged. Temporomandibular joint subluxation developed in one patient. Two patients needed flap revision due to bulkiness. The postoperative mouth opening was 18–38 mm (mean 28.2 mm) after a mean of 21 months’ follow-up, and the mean increase was 25.9 mm. A bipaddled radial forearm flap, using a single donor site, can cover two separate buccal defects after release of oral submucosal fibrosis and obviate the need for a second free flap.