Premium
Single free anterolateral thigh flap for simultaneous reconstruction of composite hypopharyngeal and external neck skin defect after head and neck cancer ablation
Author(s) -
Tan Ngian Chye,
Yeh MingChung,
Shih HsiangShun,
Nebres Rico P.,
Yang Johnson ChiaShen,
Kuo YurRen
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
microsurgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.031
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1098-2752
pISSN - 0738-1085
DOI - 10.1002/micr.20906
Subject(s) - medicine , surgery , hypopharyngeal cancer , head and neck , free flap , microsurgery , ablation , soft tissue , free flap reconstruction , head and neck cancer , resection , anatomy , radiation therapy
Single flap for complex hypopharyngoesophageal and anterior neck skin defect reconstruction is still a challenge for reconstructive surgeons. Herein, we present five patients, with advanced hypopharyngeal cancer and anterior neck skin invasion, which received a single anterolateral thigh (ALT) fasciocutaneous flap for composite inner pharyngeal and outer skin defect reconstruction after wide composite resection. Two ALT flaps were divided into two distinct paddles supplied by two or more separate perforators, one part for reconstructing the inner pharyngeal defect and another for neck skin coverage. Three ALT flaps only supplied by one sizable perforator could not be divided and de‐epithelization of mid‐part had to be done to reconstruct both defects with the single flap. The results revealed survival of all flaps. There were no flap loss, fistulas, or bleeding complications. All patients recovered uneventfully and could eat a soft diet to regular diet postoperatively. In conclusion, one‐staged reconstruction of complex pharyngoesophageal and external skin defects after extensive oncological resection is feasible using a single ALT fasciocutaneous free flap. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2011.