SALVAGE TONGUE FLAP IN A CURIOUS CASE OF PECTORAL GAP PHENOMENON

Abstract

Pectoralis Major myocutaneous (PMMC) flap is the workhorse for reconstruction in composite resection of oral cavity cases where free flaps are not feasible or not indicated. Due to the ease of harvesting it and shorter learning curve, it is done in most of the cases. But when there are any intraoperative complications like shearing of the flap or if there are any anamolies in the muscle, the surgeons have options for reconstruction like deltopectoral flap, forehead flap, nasolabial flap, latissimus dorsi flap and so on with their own advantages and disadvantages. Tongue flap is an option to be considered albeit occurrence of some restriction in the tongue movement and articulation difficulty in post operative life. Here we discuss a case of absent medial part of pectoralis major muscle for which we did a salvage tongue flap.