A comparative study of anterolateral thigh perforator flap with and without sensory nerve graft for sensation reconstruction in head and neck region / 中华显微外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the operation effects of sensation restoration after tumor resection in the head and neck defects reconstruction by anterolateral thigh flap with or without sensory nerve transplantation.Methods The application of 76 cases anterolateral thigh flaps in head and neck defects reconstruction after tumor resection from May,2011 to May,2015 were observed.35 patients underwent simultaneous reconstruction with sensory nerve anastomosed perforator based anterolateral thigh flap and 41 patients underwent simultaneous reconstruction without sensory nerve graft based anterolateral thigh flap,which was named as group A and group B,respective ly.The treatment effectiveness of the two groups was compared and graded into First,Second and Third rate.Results All the 76 flaps survived.Satisfying morphology for the maxillofacial region and stage-one healing for the donor site was available.During the 24-week follow-up,group A were 65.71％ (First rate),28.57％ (Second rate),5.72％(Third rate) respectively,and the condition of group B were 31.70％,26.84％,41.46％.The treatment effectiveness of group A was better than that of group B.Postoperative complications were less than group B(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Compared with the loss of nerve transplantation of anterolateral thigh perforator flap,sensory nerve anastomosed perforator based anterolateral thigh flap is of great value to reconstruct the defect after resection of tumor in head and neck region and restore the sensation of flap.