Late reconstruction of oncological maxillary defect with microvascular free flap

Abstract

Microvascular reconstruction of maxillary composite defect after oncologic resection has improved both esthetic and functional aspect of quality of life of the cancer patients. However, a lot of patients had prior surgery with radiation and/or chemotherapy as a part of comprehensive cancer treatment. Sometimes it is nearly impossible to find out adequate recipient vessel for maxillary reconstruction with microvascular anastomosis. Therefore long pedicle of the flap is needed to use distant neck vessels located far from the reconstruction site such as ipsilateral transverse cervical artery or a branch of contralateral external carotid artery. For this reason, although we know the treatment of the choice is osteocutaneous flap, it is difficult to use this flap when we need long pedicle with complex three dimensional osseous defect. Vascular option for these vessel-depleted neck patients can be managed by a soft tissue reconstruction with long vascular pedicle and additional free non-vascularized flap that is rigidly fixed to remaining skeletal structures. For this reason, maxillofacial reconstruction by vascularized soft tissue flap with or without the secondary restoration of maxillary bone with non-vascularized iliac bone can be regarded as one of options for reconstruction of profound maxillofacial composite defect resulted from previous oncological resection with chemo-radiotherapy.