Total Tongue Reconstruction with Reinnervated Rectus Abdominis Musculocutaneous Flap.
- Author:
Cheol Hann KIM
1
;
Min Sung TARK
Author Information
1. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Seoul, Korea. tarkms@hosp.sch.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Total tongue reconstruction;
Reinnervated rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap
- MeSH:
Atrophy;
Deglutition;
Denervation;
Free Tissue Flaps;
Glossectomy;
Humans;
Hypoglossal Nerve;
Intercostal Nerves;
Myocutaneous Flap*;
Palate, Hard;
Quality of Life;
Rectus Abdominis*;
Tongue*
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
2006;33(2):161-167
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
After total glossectomy, recovery of swallowing and speech function can greatly improve quality of life. The reconstructed tongue must be thick enough to contact with the hard palate for articulation. If the free flap is denervation, it may procede to have atrophy postoperatively. Therefor it is difficult to maintain the tongue volume for a long period of time. To resolve this problem, we have used a innervated rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap and maintaining the volume through a neurorrhaphy. 7 patients underwent immediate reconstruction using a reinnervated rectus abdominis musculocutaneous free flap in which included intercostal nerve was anastomosed to the remaining hypoglossal nerve. The reinnervated rectus abdominis musculocutaneous free flap has provided good tongue contour with sufficient bulk and shown no obvious atrophy in all patients even though postoperative 9 months later. Considering swallowing and articulation, we concluded that reinnervated rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap is a viable method after total glossectomy.
