INTRAORAL RECONSTRUCTION WITH LATERAL UPPER ARM FREE FLAP.
- Author:
Tae Geon KWON
1
;
Sang Han LEE
;
R SCHMELZEISEN
;
N C GELLRICH
Author Information
1. Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Taegu, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- MeSH:
Arm*;
Forearm;
Free Tissue Flaps*;
Humans;
Neck;
Necrosis;
Skin Transplantation;
Tissue Donors
- From:Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
1999;25(3):192-198
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Thin and pliable fasciocutaneous free flap is recommended to reconstruct the intraoral defects of intraoral mobile structures to maintain function at optimum. Recently, radial forearm free flap is one of the popular flaps for intraoral reconstruction for these reasons. However, donor site morbidity such as necessary skin grafting and esthetic compromise was the problems of this flap. In this point of view, lateral upper arm free flap(LUFF) has many advantages include relatively simple vascular anatomy and very low doner site morbidity. The purpose of this study is to investigate the 20 consecutive LUFF and evaluate the surgical procedure and postoperative results. The lateral arm flap provided a good functional and esthetic result except for one case of complete flap necrosis because of vascular insufficiency of the supplying vessel of the neck. Although post-operative lower arm partial sensory deficit is a possible disadvantage of this flap, it is a highly reliable method for oral reconstruction with minimal complication.
