Facial Artery Musculomucosal Flap Research Articles

Palatal Flap Delay and Facial Artery Musculomucosal (FAMM) Flap for the Closure of Cocaine Fistula

Palatal Flap Delay and Facial Artery Musculomucosal (FAMM) Flap for the Closure of Cocaine Fistula

Patient Satisfaction After Using a Reverse Flow Based Facial Artery Musculomucosal Flap (FAMM) versus a Palatal Pedicled Flap for Closure of Recurrent Small and Medium-Sized Oronasal Fistula: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Patient Satisfaction After Using a Reverse Flow Based Facial Artery Musculomucosal Flap (FAMM) versus a Palatal Pedicled Flap for Closure of Recurrent Small and Medium-Sized Oronasal Fistula: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Versatality of facial artery musculomucosal flap in medium sized defects following ablation of oral cancers - A case series

Facial artery musculomucosal flaps (FAMM) are frequently utilised to restore medium-sized abnormalities after surgical removal of oral malignancies. This case series provides an overview of how patients are chosen for FAMM flap surgery, the operative anatomy, the surgical procedure, and the benefits of FAMM flap in reconstruction.

Versatility of Facial Artery Musculomucosal (FAMM) Flap for Reconstruction of Oral Cavity Defects.

The Facial Artery Musculomucosal (FAMM) flap for reconstruction of oral cavity defects is being popularized in recent years due to its obvious advantages. The aim of our study is to evaluate the cases operated at our institute for the reconstruction of oral cavity defects using FAMM flap and assess their outcomes. In this retrospective study, we included all patients in whom the FAMM flap was used to reconstruct oral cavity defects operated at our institute from January 2017 to December 2020. From the available records, patients' data like age, sex, diagnosis, treatment plan, complications, flap viability, and need for pedicle revision were retrieved and tabulated. FAMM flap was used in ten patients (8 male, 2 female) with ages ranging from 40 to 54years. In six patients with superior defects e.g., maxilla/palate, retrograde FAMM flap was used and in the other 4 patients with inferior defects e.g., tongue/ floor of the mouth, antegrade FAMM flap was used. None of the patients developed complications like flap failure/necrosis or dehiscence. The donor site healed uneventfully in all patients. FAMM flap offers various advantages for oral cavity reconstruction including mucosa reconstruction with alike mucosal tissue, muscle portion providing bulk, minimal donor site morbidity along with easier harvesting approach. There are no associated significant long-term complications if the technique is properly followed. FAMM should be considered a viable option for the reconstruction of a variety of oral cavity defects.

Reconstruction using a facial artery musculomucosal flap technique after removal of necrotic bone in the anterior areas in medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: A technical note

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of 7 patients with stage 2 or 3 medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) in an anterior area who were treated using a facial artery musculomucosal (FAMM) flap after necrotic-bone removal. Superiorly based FAMM flaps were used for maxillary defects in 4 patients while inferiorly based FAMM flaps were used for mandibular defects in 3 patients. Successful wound healing was defined as maintenance of full mucosal coverage without signs of infection at 6 months postoperatively. The follow-up periods ranged from 7 to 27 months (average: 16.8 months). Wound healing during the follow-up period was successful in all patients (100 % success rate). Despite the limited number of cases, our experience shows that a FAMM flap is an effective surgical option for well-vascularized wound-healing of exposed bone in patients with stage 2 or stage 3 MRONJ in anterior areas of the jaw.

The Efficacy of Facial Artery Musculomucosal Flap in Reconstruction of Lip Defects

The Efficacy of Facial Artery Musculomucosal Flap in Reconstruction of Lip Defects

The Efficacy of facial artery musculomucosal flap in reconstruction of lip defects

The Efficacy of facial artery musculomucosal flap in reconstruction of lip defects

The use of the facial artery musculomucosal flap for reconstruction of oral cavity defects after cancer resection

Background. Reconstruction of defects following surgery for head and neck cancer possess challenges for surgeons. The choice of the reconstruction option is determined by various factors, namely: the size and location of the defect, patients’ age, concomitant pathology, prognosis of the disease, and individual decisions of surgeons and patients. Microvascular surgery is a highly successful and relatively safe method for the reconstruction of large head and neck defects. However, the use of revascularized autografts is not possible in all categories of patients, and therefore the search for new reconstruction techniques is necessary to improve functional, aesthetic results and reduce trauma.Material and methods. The use of different types of facial artery mucous-muscular (FAMM) flaps for the reconstruction of oral cavity defects after tumor resection was analyzed. From June 2020 to march 2021, 7 patients with histologically verified t2–4N0–1 oral cancer were treated at Blokhin National medical Research center of oncology (Moscow). The patients underwent tumor resection with one-stage reconstruction using different types of FAMM flaps. All patients underwent adjuvant radiation therapy.Results. When cutting out the flap, an additional skin incision was not performed, the defect in the oral cavity was replaced by tissues of the same composition while preserving the small salivary glands, respectively, there was no hair growth and a defect in the donor bed. None of the cases had malnutrition of the flap.Conclusion. Good functional and cosmetic results in patients who underwent FAMM flap reconstruction may set a new standard in the replacement of small-to medium-size soft tissue defects in the oral cavity

Application of vascularized mucosal flap for early-medium-term tongue cancer and floor of mouth cancer defect repair: a preliminary study.

This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of facial artery musculomucosal (FAMM) flap for small-medium tongue or floor of mouth defects caused by surgical resection of early-medium stage tongue or floor of mouth cancer. A retrospective cohort study was conducted and included patients with early-medium stage tongue or floor of mouth cancer and reconstructed by FAMM flap or traditional free or axial flaps. Demographic data and surgery-related data were collected. Patients were followed up for 6 months and evaluated with satisfaction, maximal mouth opening, satisfactory contour and speech, and oral intake function at months 3 and 6. Forty-five patients were included, with 15 in the FAMM group and 30 in the flap group. All patients finished 3 months follow-up, and 1 in each group was lost to follow-up at month 6. All followed-up patients had no recurrence or metastasis. The FAMM group had a significantly shorter surgical time than the flap group (P<0.05). The flap group had significantly more donor sites that were uncomfortable compared with the FAMM group (P<0.05). There was no statistical significance on satisfaction, but the FAMM group had better outcomes on contour, speech, and oral intake function at month 6 than the flap group (P<0.05). The FAMM group had smaller maximal mouth opening than the flap group (P<0.05) at month 3 but equivalent maximal mouth opening at month 6 (P>0.05). FAMM flap has some advantages for small-medium tongue or floor of mouth defects caused by surgical resection of early-medium stage tongue or floor of mouth cancer, and it could be an ideal choice for clinical application.

Feasibility of dpFAMM flap in tongue reconstruction after facial vessel ligation and radiotherapy\u2014case presentation

BackgroundSalvage surgery with reconstruction of the second and next primary tongue cancer remains difficult, especially after earlier neck dissection and radiotherapy. In the current report, we describe the feasibility of the extended, double-pedicled facial artery musculomucosal (dpFAMM) flap in the reconstruction of the patient with second primary tongue squamous cell carcinoma, after facial vessel ligation and radiotherapy.Case presentationAn 81-year-old female patient was operated on due to tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) on the left side T3N1M0 in 2019. Bilateral selective neck dissection with tongue reconstruction was performed by island FAMM flap. The patient also suffered from synchronous mucinous breast carcinoma treated with tamoxifen. The second primary SCC of the tongue on the opposite (right) side was detected in 2020. The patient did not agree to surgical treatment; therefore, radiotherapy was performed. The local recurrence of the tongue cancer of the right side was treated surgically in 2021. Salvage surgery comprised hemiglossectomy and dpFAMM flap reconstruction with uneventful postoperative follow-up.ConclusionsThis case presentation proved that dpFAMM flap can be used in salvage surgery and reconstruction even in patients after ligation of facial vessels, irradiation, and in the course of hormone therapy. The flap is easy to handle, has good vascularity, and comprises a predictable method of reconstruction, especially for patients with severe comorbidities.

Facial Artery Musculomucosal Flap Operative Techniques.

Regional flaps are an important component of the reconstructive ladder and represent a versatile option in reconstructing various oral cavity defects. An axial buccal flap based on the facial artery, the facial artery musculomucosal flap, was first described by Pribaz et al. and has been shown to have good functional outcomes with minimal morbidity. Indeed, other surgeons have praised its favorable arc of rotation, reliability, and role as an alternative to free tissue transfer, with shorter duration of general anesthesia and allowance for earlier postoperative mobilization. The facial artery musculomucosal flap has significant versatility, as it can be superiorly or inferiorly based and can be performed in either single- or two-stage fashion. It is of particular advantage for reconstruction of the oral cavity (retromolar trigone, hard palate, alveolar ridge, lip, tongue, and floor of mouth), oropharynx (tongue base, lateral pharynx, and soft palate), and sinonasal structures. Despite its advantages, its widespread use has been limited by a lack of familiarity and difficulty in safely raising a reliable flap consistently. The senior author (S.C.D.) has successfully utilized a high volume of facial artery musculomucosal flaps with a low complication rate in a broad array of oral cavity and oropharyngeal defects. In this article, the authors share technical details on how to harvest and inset this flap by incorporating key landmarks in a reliable fashion.

Role of the facial artery musculomucosal flap in the reconstruction of palatal defects

The facial artery musculomucosal flap (FAMM flap) is a convenient option for covering complicated palatal defects, as it is a local flap inside the oral cavity with good tissue quality and minimal drawbacks. The present prospective study included 17 patients, 7 males and 10 females. Most of the patients had palatal fistulae, after cleft palate surgical repair; only one had a post-traumatic palatal defect. Superiorly based FAMM flaps were used for eight patients, and inferiorly based FAMM flaps were used for nine patients. A speech specialist assessed all patients, postoperatively. The range of follow-up time was from two to four years. In the majority of cases, reconstruction was successful and uneventful. Patients were satisfied regarding oral function. Complications were minor, which include incomplete coverage, bulkiness, temporary hardness and dimpling. The FAMM flap is a very useful, versatile, and technically easy flap for covering difficult palatal defects.

Facial Artery Musculomucosal Flap in Alveolar Cleft Surgery.

Introduction:Large anterior palatal fistula and special alveolar clefts, such as edentulous atrophic premaxilla and absent premaxilla (premaxillectomy or agenesis), as well as wide unilateral alveolar cleft, are complicated cases in alveolar cleft bone grafting surgery. A superiorly-based buccinator myomucosal flap is suitable in this regard.Materials and Methods:The cleft patients whose large anterior palatal fistula and superiorly based buccinator myomucosal flap had been used for palatal or alveolar reconstruction were recruited in the study. The reconstruction method of the nasal floor, follow-up time, and hospital length of stay were recorded.Results:A total of 10 patients had been treated by this method. The majority of them were male (6/10), the age range of the patients was 14-25 years. All flaps survived and a case of partial necrosis occurred. Conclusion:As evidenced by the obtained results, a superiorly-based facial artery musculomucosal flap is suitable when the palatal fistula is continuous with the alveolar cleft. Transmaxillary transfer is the other option in patients with closed maxillary arch.

Functional Outcomes with Facial Artery Musculo-Mucosal (FAMM) Flap and Dental Implants for Reconstruction of Floor of the Mouth and Tongue Defects in Oncologic Patients.

Optimal functional outcomes in oncologic patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA) of the tongue and floor of the mouth require good lingual mobility, adequate facial competence, the cheek suction effect and dental rehabilitation with osseointegrated implants. In this study, twenty-two oncologic patients who had been diagnosed with intraoral SCCA affecting the tongue and the floor of the mouth and who had undergone wide resection of the tumor and immediate reconstruction with an inferiorly pedicled FAMM flap and immediate osseointegrated implants were assessed. Lingual mobility, speech articulation, deglutition, implant success rate, mouth opening, and aesthetic results were evaluated. All patients were staged as T2 and the defect size ranged from 3.7 × 2.1 cm to 6.3 × 4.2 cm. A selective neck dissection was performed in all patients as part of their oncologic treatment, either electively or for node positive disease. Thirteen patients (59%) were diagnosed with node positive disease and underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. A total of 101 osseointegrated implants were placed for prosthetic rehabilitation and 8 implants were lost (7.9%), of which 7 received radiotherapy (87.5%). The implant success rate was 92.1%. Mouth opening was reported as normal in 19 patients (86.3%). Tongue tip elevation was reported as excellent in 19 patients (86.3%) and good in 3 patients (13.6%). Lingual protrusion was referred to as excellent in 15 patients (68.2%) and good in 6 patients (27.2%). Lateral excursion was reported as excellent in 14 patients (63.6%) and good in 7 patients (31.8%). In terms of speech articulation, 20 patients reported normal speech (90.9%). Regarding deglutition, 19 patients (86.3%) reported a regular diet while a soft diet was reported by 3 patients (13.7%). Aesthetic results were referred to as excellent in 17 patients (77.3%). FAMM flaps, immediate implants and fixed prostheses enable the functional rehabilitation of oncologic patients, optimizing aesthetics and functional outcomes even in patients undergoing irradiation, thus returning oncologic patients to an excellent quality of life.

Extended, Double-Pedicled Facial Artery Musculomucosal (dpFAMM) Flap in Tongue Reconstruction in Edentulous Patients: Preliminary Report and Flap Design.

Backgroundand Objectives: The reconstruction of tongue defects after cancer resection is challenging for reconstructive surgeons. The facial artery musculomucosal (FAMM) flap and the myomucosal buccinator flap (Bozola flap) are important tools in the reconstruction of intraoral defects. In this study, we describe the combination of both flaps—the extended, double-pedicled FAMM (dpFAMM) flap—and present clinical results of the reconstruction of moderate tongue defects in edentulous patients. Materials and Methods: a tongue defect, after squamous cell carcinoma excision, was reconstructed with the dpFAMM flap in 5 patients. Most of them received postoperative radiotherapy. Results: the healing process was uneventful in all patients. We did not observe flap necrosis or venous congestion. Tongue mobility, speech and swallowing were satisfactory. Conclusions: In conclusion, the dpFAMM flap is a good alternative in the reconstruction of moderate defects of the lateral part of the tongue. The flap is easy to harvest and has a good vascularity. This is a predictable method of reconstruction, especially for elderly patients with numerous comorbidities.

FACIAL ARTERY MUSCLOMUCOSAL FLAP FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF LIP DEFECTS: A CLINICAL STUDY

The lips are complex, laminated structures consisting of skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscles, submucosa, and mucosa. The vermilion spans the junction between the intraoral, moist mucosa and the keratinized, dry mucosa that join the skin at the white roll. With any surgical reconstruction, one must take into consideration many factors that affect overall satisfaction in terms of functional and aesthetic results. Lip defects may be traumatic or pathological following excision of large lesions such as squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma. Numerous techniques for lip and vermilion reconstruction have been described. J. Pribaz in 1992 described the facial artery musculomucosal (FAMM) flap, which is taken from the lateral cheek as a composite flap. The FAMM flap is an axial flap based on the facial artery as it courses through the cheek lateral to the buccinator muscle, but medial to most of the other muscles of facial expression. In this study, we used FAMM flap in lip reconstruction.

Reconstruction of medium-size defects of the oral cavity: radial forearm free flap vs facial artery musculo-mucosal flap

BackgroundThe radial forearm free flap (RFFF) is the most commonly used flap for defects of the oral cavity. The facial artery musculomucosal (FAMM) is a safe and effective method to reconstruct medium sized defects of the oral cavity. No comparison exists between the FAMM flap and RFFF.Methods1) Retrospective chart review from 2007 to 2016. 2) Cost difference analysis.ResultsThirteen FAMM flap cases and 18 RFFF met inclusion criteria. The FAMM flap showed a tendency to lower rates of return to the operating room (p = 0.065) as well as lower rates of complications not requiring return to the OR with 1 complication in 1 patient as opposed to 10 patients with 15 complications (p = 0.008). Also, FAMM flap had shorter operative times compared to the RFFF group (7.2HR and 8.9 HR respectively, p = 0.002). The average operative room related costs for a FAMM flap were 6510 CAD vs 10,703 CAD for RFFF (p < 0.0005). Speech and swallowing outcomes were similar (p > 0.05).ConclusionThe FAMM flap can be used for reconstruction of medium-size defects of the oral cavity with functional outcomes similar to the RFFF while decreasing the associated costs and morbidity.Graphical

Split zygomaticus major muscle sling reconstruction for significant lower lip defects

Defects to the lower lip remain surgically challenging to reconstruct. Restoration of aesthetics and function are crucial, of which the aims include restoring the tissues of the lower lip, maintaining oral competence, speech articulation, and restoring lip height and the vermillion. Further surgical techniques continue to be explored, with local flap surgery being the generally preferred method. However, many reconstructions leave the patient with pronounced deformity and morbidity. In this case report, we describe a new technique for the reconstruction of an 80% lower lip defect with an ipsilateral split zygomaticus major muscle sling, nasolabial flap, and facial artery musculomucosal flap. The reconstruction provided good oral competence, speech articulation and aesthetics, in addition to maintaining the oral commissure and lower lip height/length. Iatrogenic microstomia was avoided and zygomaticus functioning was normal. We are confident this technique will be useful to reconstructive surgeons in select cases of significant lip defects.

Facial Artery Musculomucosal Flap for Nasopharyngeal and Oropharyngeal Reconstruction.

Importance: The facial artery musculomucosal (FAMM) flap is a well vascularized axial flap which has been described for mucosal reconstructions throughout the oral cavity. There are limited data regarding its efficacy in secondary repair of nasopharyngeal stenosis and velopharyngeal insufficiency due previous surgery and scar tissue formation. Objective: This study seeks to demonstrate the efficacy of FAMM flap procedure in patients with nasopharyngeal stenosis and velopharyngeal insufficiency. Design, Setting, and Participants: A retrospective case series included patients treated for nasopharyngeal stenosis or velopharyngeal insufficiency with a FAMM flap at an academic medical center from January 1, 2012 to November 1, 2017. Patients included in the study were those who underwent a FAMM flap procedure by the senior author during the specified time period. Main Outcomes and Measures: Functional outcomes included nasopharyngeal airway patency, nasal regurgitation, and speech quality. Any postoperative complications were recorded, including flap necrosis, infection, flap failure, dehiscence, trismus and need for revision surgery. Results: A total of 6 FAMM flap procedures were performed by the senior author over the study period for the indications of this case series. Three patients had nasopharyngeal stenosis and three had velopharyngeal insufficiency. All had successful, sustained nasopharyngeal airway patency or restored velopharyngeal function. The only postoperative complication noted was trismus at the cheek donor site. There were no patients who suffered flap failure or need for revision surgery of the FAMM flap. Conclusions: The FAMM flap is useful for secondary reconstruction of nasopharyngeal stenosis and velopharyngeal insufficiency due to previous surgery and scarring. This study demonstrates the efficacy and reliability of FAMM flaps for repair of complete/near complete nasopharyngeal stenosis and cases of velopharyngeal insufficiency due to scarring of the pharynx.

Functional Outcomes Regarding Facial Artery Musculomucosal Flap for Reconstruction of Partial Glossectomy Defects.

The surgical management and reconstruction after ablation of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue and floor of mouth are quite challenging. If not reconstructed properly, the deficits resulting from the extirpation of even relatively small (T1 and T2) tumors of the tongue can impact speech and deglutition via tongue tethering and poor anterolateral mobility. Functional outcome studies regarding the utility of the pedicled facial artery musculamucosal (FAMM) flap for reconstruction of partial glossectomy defects are limited. This is a retrospective single institutional study of patients who underwent FAMM flap reconstruction for oral cavity defects resulting from partial glossectomy (2009-2013). Follow-up data included postoperative complications, defect size, operative time, and subjective functional results (tongue mobility, speech, and swallowing capabilities).The MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory and a limited self-assessment of speech were sent to all living patients in this initial tongue cancer cohort to assess aspects of functional status. Of the 21 patients studied in this initial FAMM flap cohort, 18 are currently living. The MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory and a limited self-assessment survey of speech were sent to these individuals 6 months after treatment completion. Eight patients (44%) returned completed questionnaires. All of the respondents disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement that they felt excluded from others because of their eating habits, 6 of the 8 of the respondents stated that they disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement that they have to limit their food intake, and none felt that others were irritated by their eating habits. All felt that their speech was either good, very good, or excellent. No surveyed patient reported having job difficulty because of their speech. The FAMM flap is a reliable alternative for reconstruction of small oral tongue defects without functional deficits and a great alternative to free flap reconstruction of medium-sized defects. The encouragement of patient functional outcome studies and longitudinal follow-up studies need to be conducted in efforts to best tailor a reconstruction plan for patients with oral tongue cancers.