Utility of superiorly based platysma myocutaneous flap for reconstruction of intraoral surgical defects: our experience.

Abstract

Various surgical modalities have been advocated for the soft tissue reconstruction of oral cavity with variable results. This prospective study evaluates the utility of platysma myocutaneous flap (PMF) in the reconstruction of surgical defects followed by treatment of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in terms of healing and functional outcomes. In this prospective study, 47 patients with OSMF and 15 of OSCC were evaluated and selected for PMF reconstruction. OSCC was selected under T1N0M0 category only. Patients were operated under general anaesthesia followed by PMF grafting. In OSCC, ipsilateral and for OSMF, bilateral PMF was used. In 47 patients treated for OSMF, 46 were male and 1 female while 15 cases of OSCC, 10 were male and 5 females aged between 18 and 44years. Intraoperative mouth opening was achieved up to 48mm in OSMF followed by 42.5mm postoperatively after 2years. However, uneventful healing and acceptable scar on cervical region was noted in all the cases including OSCC. In OSMF, three cases of dehiscence, four partial necrosis at end of flap and in OSCC one case shows skin loss at flap and two partial necrosis at tip of flap and extraoral localised abscess at ipsilateral donor site in one case was noted. An uneventful healing, anatomical form and functional results were restored with acceptable scarring at donor site without any evidence of difficulty in neck movements were observed. The PMF is simple, versatile and could be valued as a reconstructive alternative, with interesting visual qualities. It is a good therapeutic alternative tool for reconstruction of the buccal mucosa, especially for small- and medium-sized defects between 2 and 4cm2 of the oral cavity.