Repair of the oral cavity after irradiation and resection for oral carcinoma.

Abstract

Twenty patients with advanced carcinoma of the oral cavity were treated by major excisions of the oral cavity requiring procedures for reconstruction of the cavity walls. All patients had been treated with radiotherapy before operation. Operative procedures, postoperative complications, and results are discussed. The forehead flap was utilized in 10 cases, with very good results. The positive results support further work on combined radiotherapy and surgery in advanced cases of oral carcinoma, with use of reconstructive skin flaps when large defects are formed in the walls of the cavity.