Microvascular medial femoral condylar flaps in 107 consecutive reconstructions in the head and neck

Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2016 Jul;54(6):614-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2016.03.007. Epub 2016 Mar 26.

Abstract

We have assessed the role of the medial femoral condylar flap in 107 patients who had reconstructions of the head and neck. We retrospectively reviewed their medical records for indications, complications, and outcomes. The flap was primarily used for coverage of alveolar ridge defects (n=67), secondly for defects of the facial bone, calvaria, or skull base (n=35), and thirdly for partial laryngeal defects (n=5). Two flaps were lost. One patient fractured a femur 5 weeks postoperatively. The duration of follow up ranged from 6 months to 12 years. The medial femoral condylar flap is well-suited to individual reconstructions of the alveolar ridge, midface, calvaria, skull base, and part of the larynx with poor recipient sites. The flap does not replace other wellknown flaps, but offers new solutions for solving special problems in head and neck surgery.

Keywords: Alveolar ridge reconstruction; Head and neck reconstruction; Medial femoral femur flap.

MeSH terms

  • Head
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Neck
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Surgical Flaps*