Comparison Between Radial Forearm Free Flap and Pectoralis Major Myocutaneous Flap for Reconstruction in Oral Cavity Cancer Patients

This study is aimed to investigate the articulatory functions of patients who have undergone tongue reconstruction following hemiglossectomy. The second aim of the study is to compare the speech intelligibility between hemiglossectomy patients who have undergone tongue reconstruction using pectoralis major myocutaneous with those hemiglossectomy patients who had undergone tongue reconstruction using radial forearm free flap.Fourteen patients who have undergone tongue reconstruction following hemiglossectomy as a treatment for oral cancer between the age of 30 to 60 years were taken up for this study. Tamil Articulation Test was used for assessing the articulatory functions of patients. The speech intelligibility of each patient was assessed using the Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped intelligibility rating scale. Analysis of articulatory errors revealed linguoalveolar consonants were more impaired when compared to other consonants. Patients with radial forearm free flap had somewhat better speech intelligibility compared to patients with pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction.The type of reconstruction also impacts the speech intelligibility. Effective intervention can be planned based on the comprehensive speech evaluation and analysis of articulatory error relative to place and manner of production.

Purpose: The purpose was to explore the application effect of anterolateral thigh perforator flap (ALTP) and pectoralis major myocutaneous flap on repairing the tissuedefects after oral cancer surgery. Methods: 100 oral cancer patients treated in our hospital from January 2018 to December 2020 were selected as the research objects. After both groups of patients received extended resection of tumors, neck lymph node dissection and other routine treatment, the control group was repaired by pectoralis major myocutaneous flap while the study group was repaired by ALTP to compare the flap survival rate, language, masticatory function and other related indicators between the two groups. Results: The flap harvesting time and defect repair time in the control group were shorter than those in the study group (P<0.05); The language, masticatory function and swallowing function in both groups after treatment were significantly better than those before treatment (P<0.05); The total incidence of complications in the study group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05); After treatment, the quality of life scores in both groups were significantly higher than those before treatment (P<0.05). Conclusion: Both ALTP and pectoralis major myocutaneous flap can be used to repair the tissue defects after radical resection of oral cancer, which can effective improve the postoperative appearance, language and masticatory function of oral cancer patients. However, pectoralis major myocutaneous flap has easier operation and shorter operation time while ALTP can significantly reduce the incidence of postoperative complications with higher safety.

The study objective is to assess immediate and long-term results of replacing complex defects with a free radial forearm flap in the multimodal treatment of patients with locally advanced oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. Materials and methods. Twenty eight patients (20 women and 8 men aged 23 to 71 years) with locally advanced oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (including 10 buccal cancers, 8 carcinomas of tongue, 6 carcinomas of the floor of the mouth, 2 retromolar area carcinomas, 1 carcinoma of the hard palate and 1 carcinoma of alveolar region of the lower jaw) underwent tumor surgery with simultaneous plastic reconstruction of the defect using radial forearm free flap at the department of head and neck tumors of N. N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology within 2010–2018. Primary tumors were detected in 2 patients and 11 patients had residual (n = 7) or recurrent (n = 4) tumors after radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Results. An overall success rate was 96.4 %. Postoperative histology revealed that there were no tumor cells at the resection edges. Postoperative complications included: complete flap necrosis in 1 patient with severe concomitant diseases, marginal flap necrosis in 2 patients (in both cases after the necrotic tissue had rejected, wounds were healed by secondary intention), sural veins thrombosis in 1 patient, acute peptic ulcer bleeding on the 6th day after surgery in 1 patient treated with emergency endoscopic hemostasis. No lethal outcomes were reported. Postoperative period lasted in average 14 days. Upon subsequent observation tumor relapse in the oral cavity occurred in 4 (14.3 %) patients, relapses of regional metastases – in 2 (7.1 %). Good aesthetic and functional results were noted. Adequate restoration of breathing, chewing, swallowing and speaking resulted in a full patients’ rehabilitation. In all cases, the radial flap adapted well to the oral cavity organs and corresponded to the surrounding tissues in thickness and consistency. Conclusion. Use of a radial forearm free flap makes it possible to successfully reconstruct extensive and complex defects after surgery of locally advanced primary and recurrent forms of oral cavity squamous cell cancer of various locations. Due to flap’s high regenerative capabilities, preoperative radiation therapy does not affect the frequency of local complications. It allows restoring vital functions of the oral cavity and achieving good aesthetic and functional results.

ABSTRACT Introduction Oral cavity cancers account for 30% of head and neck cancers and represent a significant challenge to clinicians. Treatment requires multi disciplinary expertise and is complicated by. the complex role that the oral cavity plays in speech, mastication, and swallowing. Surgery remains the cornerstone of most treatment regimens; the primary objective is cure, not withstanding preservation of form and function to retain a good quality of life that can be further improved by reconstructive techniques using various local flaps, distant flaps or microvascular reconstruction. The pectoralis major [PM] flap has many advantages in that it is very reliable, and allows a single-stage reconstruction of most head and neckdefects to the level of the maxilla with well-vascularized tissue capable of carrying a large skin paddle. The donor site morbidity is surprisingly low, and few patients complain of difficulties with arm movement. Aims & Objectives This paper revisits the surgical anatomy and technique of harvesting the Pectoralis Major myocutaneous flap used to reconstruct complex defects of the lower face following composite therapeutic resection. In addition, we describe our experience using this flap and discuss associated merits and demerits and complications. Conclusion Despite contemporary micro vascular techniques, the Pectoralis Major myocutaneous flap continues to be a versatile option in the reconstruction of complex head and neck defects following ablative surgery. However, regardless of the site, stage and degree of tumor differentiation, such cases will always pose as a therapeutic challenge to the reconstructive surgeon.