Objeetive To investigate the outcome of microvascular reconstruction of the tongue with anterolateral thigh flaps in the treatment of middle-late stage tongue cancer patients. Methods From December 2003 to March 2007,nine patients underwent simultaneous reconstruction of the tongue and oral floor defects with anterolateral thigh flaps after resection of squamous cell carcinoma of tongue.The flaps ranged from 7 cm×10 cm to 10 cm×12 cm in size,and were adjusted to the defect of the tongue and oral floor.The vascular pedicle included descending branch of the lateral femoral circumflex artery and the accompanying veins.The outcome of reconstruction was evaluated by follow-up examinations,considering the contour and mobility of the reconstructed tongues,the swallowing function and the speech function.Results All of the donor sites were closed directly,with minimal donor-site morbidity. All patients recovered unevenffully from surgery,with no immediate postoperative complications:no flap necrosis,no wound infection or wound dehiscence.The transplanted flaps survived well.The average follow-up period was 18 months.During the follow-up period there was no tumor recurrence and the contour of the reconstructed tongues showed sufficient bulk.The patients demonstrated good mobility of the reconstructed tongue.The swallowing and speech function recovered satisfactory.Two months postoperatively the patients were able to ingest a solid or semisolid diet,and six months postoperatively the patients developed intelligibe language.Conclusion The anterolateral thigh flaps are suitable and reliable for the microsurgical reconstruction of the large defects caused by middle-late stage tongue cancer.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical application of free forearm flap in the functional hemitongue reconstruction.

METHODSFrom July 2002 to November 2006, 40 patients with tongue cancer underwent hemiglossectomy and primary hemitongue reconstruction with free forearm flaps. In some cases, the lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerves of the flaps were anastomosed with the lingual nerve to restore the flap sensation.

RESULTSAll patients recovered uneventfully after surgery with no morbidity in the donor site. All free flaps survived. The average follow-up period was 2 years and 6 months. The aesthetic and functional results were both satisfactory. The swallowing and speech function were almost normal. The flap sensation was partially restored.

CONCLUSIONSGood functional hemitongue reconstruction can be achieved with free forearm flaps.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Forearm ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Skeletal ; transplantation ; Oral Surgical Procedures ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; Tongue Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; surgery