CLINICAL CASES   

Otorinolaringologia 2007 December;57(4):227-33

Copyright © 2007 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Platysma myocutaneous flap for oral floor reconstruction for T1-T2 squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity

Bozza F. ¹, Scotti A. ², Del Deo V. ¹, Pistilli R. ¹, Bigoni A. ², Nisii A. ¹, Dragonetti A. ²

¹ Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery San Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy 2 Department of Otorhinolaryngology San Giuseppe Hospital, Milan, Italy

The platysma myocutaneous flap has been long described in medical literature as one of the most practical technique, though little used in head and neck reconstructive surgical procedures after cancer removal. This flap also finds indication in the reconstruction of small and medium-sized defects of the hypopharynx, the oral cavity and in particular of the oral floor. For lesions presenting with limited extension to the oral floor, this flap has turned out to be a valid reconstructive choice for its characteristics of easy preparation, no need of other surgical site for harvesting, adaptability to the defect and good esthetic and functional results achievable. We present a retrospective study evaluating our experience from January 2003 to December 2006 with the platysma myocutaneous flap. In this report 6 cases about reconstruction of the oral floor with platysma myocutaneous flap, for T1-T2 squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, are discussed referring to advantages and limits of its use.