[Clinical application of free anterolateral thigh flap in the reconstruction of oromaxillo-facial defects].

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the possibility and practicality of using free anterolateral thigh flap to repair defects of oromaxillo-facial region.

METHODS

One hundred and seventy-two patients underwent anterolateral thigh flap (ALP) reconstruction from Jan. 2007 to Dec. 2008. The size of the defect ranges from 4 cm x 4 cm to 10 cm x 25 cm. One hundred and six flaps were used for tongue reconstruction, 14 flaps for buccal reconstruction, 15 flaps for mouth floor reconstruction, 1 flap for lower lip and mental region reconstruction, 6 flaps for hard and soft palate reconstruction, 3 flap for maxillary part reconstruction, 18 flaps for submaxilla part reconstruction, 2 flaps for pharynx oralis reconstruction, 3 flaps for repairing large-area defect of facial, 1 flap for repairing neck and shoulder region and 3 flaps for repairing defect of Infratemporal fossa. Of these flaps, 151 were musculocutaneous flaps, 13 were fasciocutaneous flaps and 8 were chimeric flaps.

RESULTS

The success rate reaches 98.3% (169 of 172). Postoperatively, 4 cases encountered vascular crisis, 1 of which survived completely with successful vessel exploration, 3 cases with partial necrosis; and 3 cases with complete necrosis. One case with bleeding after operation. Six cases with parotid fluidly and parotid fistula, 8 cases with mouth floor fistula, 6 cases with infection, 3 cases with infection and partial necrosis on the lateral thigh. All patients achieved acceptable contour, appearance and function.

CONCLUSION

Free anterolateral thigh flap can repair kinds of complicated defects on oromaxillo-facial region.