Tongue reconstruction with anterolateral thigh flap for middle-late stage tongue cancer patients

Abstract

Objeetive To investigate the outcome of microvascular reconstruction of the tongue with anterolateral thigh flaps in the treatment of middle-late stage tongue cancer patients. Methods From December 2003 to March 2007,nine patients underwent simultaneous reconstruction of the tongue and oral floor defects with anterolateral thigh flaps after resection of squamous cell carcinoma of tongue.The flaps ranged from 7 cm×10 cm to 10 cm×12 cm in size,and were adjusted to the defect of the tongue and oral floor.The vascular pedicle included descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery and the accompanying veins.The outcome of reconstruction was evaluated by follow-up examinations,considering the contour and mobility of the reconstructed tongues,the swallowing function and the speech function.Results All of the donor sites were closed directly,with minimal donor-site morbidity. All patients recovered unevenffully from surgery,with no immediate postoperative complications:no flap necrosis,no wound infection or wound dehiscence.The transplanted flaps survived well.The average follow-up period was 18 months.During the follow-up period there was no tumor recurrence and the contour of the reconstructed tongues showed sufficient bulk.The patients demonstrated good mobility of the reconstructed tongue.The swallowing and speech function recovered satisfactory.Two months postoperatively the patients were able to ingest a solid or semisolid diet,and six months postoperatively the patients developed intelligibe language.Conclusion The anterolateral thigh flaps are suitable and reliable for the microsurgical reconstruction of the large defects caused by middle-late stage tongue cancer. Key words: Tongue neoplasms; Anterolateral thigh flap; Transplantation; Microsurgieal operation