OBJECTIVETo report the experience of use of modified pectoralis major myocutaneous (PMMC) flaps in reconstruction of head and neck postoperative defects.

METHODSA total of 107 patients who underwent head and neck defect reconstruction using modified PMMC flaps after tumor rescetion between Jan 2008 and Dec 2013 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe success rate of reconstruction with modified PMMC flaps was 94.4% (101/107). Five patients had partial flap necrosis and their wounds healed with dressing change. One patient (0.9%) had total flap necrosis, followed by the second reconstruction using contralateral PMMC flap.

CONCLUSIONSThe modified falcate PMMC flap can obtain optimum quantity of the skin in the chest and decreasing the closing tension of the donnor site in favor of wound healing. The pedicle without muscle will not only maintain the partial function of the pectoralis major, but also help to avoid pressing the vascular pedicle within the subclavian tunnel. The muscular element the pedicled muscles of the PMMC flap can increase the ability of the flap to resist infection, which can use for covering an exposed carotid artery and improving the neck fibrosis of irradiated patients.

Head ; pathology ; surgery ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; surgery ; Humans ; Myocutaneous Flap ; Neck ; pathology ; surgery ; Necrosis ; Pectoralis Muscles ; transplantation ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Transplants ; Wound Healing