Clinical application of superior trapezius myocutaneous flap for immediate restoration of tongue defect after the operation of tongue squamous cell carcinoma / 重庆医学

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of superior trapezius myocutaneous (STM) flap with thetransverse cervical artery (TCA) in reconstruction of tongue defects immediately after the neck dissection of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.Methods From January 2013 to December 2015,the combined radical neck dissection was carried out in 16 patients of tongue squamous cell carcinoma in our institute.All tongue defects were reconstructed by the STM with the TCA.The donor sites were closed directly without skin grafting.Results All flaps survived,and the success rate was 100％.Primarily,the morphology and function of the reconstructed tongues were dissatisfactory.Three months to one year after operation,the mucosalization of flaps appeared,and the functions of speech,mastication and swallowing improved obviously.Conclusion The STM with TCA is one of the ideal flap for reconstructing the postoperative defects of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.