Background & objective: Radical operation of tongue carcinoma causes hemi-tongue defective, which seriously affected the quality of life in these patients. The primary tongue reconstruction guaranteed the healing of the surgical incision at early stage. This may help to recover swallowing and speaking of the patients. However, the vascular crisis happened in the free flap proved to be an obstacle to the extensive application in the tongue reconstruction. This paper illustrated some modifications in the application of the free forearm flap, which may ensure the success in operation.
Methods: Some methods like skin flap design, preparation and vascular anastomosis were modified in the application among the 32 tongue carcinoma patients.
Results: The surgical incisions of the oral cavity and neck healed up, with no salivary fistula, chylorrhea, submandibular fistula, infection and other complications. After the operations, 6 flaps developed vascular crisis, and 5 flaps were successfully salvaged, meanwhile, one case failed, which resulted in the flap abandonment. The total successful transplantation rate reached 96.9%. The reconstructed tongue recovered, and the speaking as well as swallowing functions re-obtained.
Conclusion: The modified methods of tongue reconstruction with free forearm flap improve the clinical effects of reconstructed tongue.