The innervated gracilis musculocutaneous flap for total tongue reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg 1999 Sep;104(4):916-21
Date
02/02/2000Pubmed ID
10654728DOI
10.1097/00006534-199909040-00004Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0032865575 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 46 CitationsAbstract
A functional neotongue following total glossectomy requires both soft-tissue bulk and reconstruction of muscle function. We used innervated transverse gracilis musculocutaneous flaps to reconstruct total glossectomy defects in eight patients. The obturator nerve to the gracilis muscle was approximated to the hypoglossal nerve to reinnervate the gracilis muscle by using microsurgical technique. The cutaneous paddle of the gracilis flap easily supplies sufficient bulk to replace the total glossectomy defect. Follow-up of patients ranged from 3 to 47 months. All patients were able to resume oral feeding. Electromyographic studies performed on one patient showed reinnervation of the flap with active elevation of the posterior pharynx. Ultimately, seven patients died because of recurrence of their disease. The innervated gracilis musculocutaneous flap may benefit patients who have a total glossectomy by allowing them to achieve a more functional recovery.
Author List
Yousif NJ, Dzwierzynski WW, Sanger JR, Matloub HS, Campbell BHAuthors
Bruce H. Campbell MD Emeritus Professor in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of WisconsinWilliam W. Dzwierzynski MD Professor in the Plastic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Hani S. Matloub MD Professor in the Plastic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
James R. Sanger MD Professor in the Plastic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
DeglutitionFemale
Follow-Up Studies
Glossectomy
Humans
Male
Microsurgery
Middle Aged
Muscle, Skeletal
Speech
Surgical Flaps
Thigh
Tongue
