Evaluation of the Versatility of Pectoralis Major Myocutaneous Flap in Reconstruction of Head and Neck Cancer: A Prospective Study.

Background and Objective: Myocutaneous flaps play a prominent role in the immediate reconstruction of surgical defects following ablative oncological procedures in head and neck. Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap is one such flap which is probably the most reliable and commonly used flap in orofacial reconstruction of tumour and trauma related defects of oral and maxillofacial region. The aim of the current study is to check the versatility of Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in reconstruction of head and neck cancers. Methods: The prospective study was conducted among the patients, who were treated for ablative surgery of head and neck cancer in whom reconstruction was done using Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in our department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, VS Dental College, Bengaluru between 2012 to 2015. A total of 8 patients were included in this study where primary reconstruction was carried out with Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. Results: The results of this study clearly demonstrate that Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap can be used for orofacial defects with high degree of reliability and minimal complications. The test showed that the observed difference for partial necrosis and partial dehiscence at different time duration was statistically not significant. Conclusion: It appeared in this study that, functional and aesthetic results were consistently satisfactory with minimal complications. In the current era of microvascular surgeries this flap still remains a valuable tool in head and neck reconstruction.

Recurrent chronic suppurative osteomyelitis of the mandible.

Osteomyelitis of the maxillofacial skeleton is a rare condition in recent times. The combination of antibiotic therapy and surgical debridement is effective in the treatment of chronic suppurative osteomyelitis (CSO). This case report describes the successful surgical treatment of CSO of the mandible in an 18-year-old adult. Treatment included a pre-surgical course of antibiotics followed by sequestrectomy, resection of the coronoid process and removal of the pathologically fractured condylar process of the left side of the mandible. On post-operative clinical review at 1 week, the extra oral draining sinus healed with improved mouth opening.