The platysma myocutaneous flap (PMF) for head and neck reconstruction: a retrospective and multicentric analysis of 91 T1-T2 patients.

The platysma myocutaneous flap (PMF) was first applied to intraoral reconstructions in 1978. PMF is not only an alternative to microvascular flaps but it also represents an excellent reconstructive choice especially in cases where free tissue transfer cannot be carried out. Failure and complications rate have been described as varying from 18 to 45% and this is why this flap should not be used in specific cases such as in the presence of cervical metastases and in cases of mandibulectomy and simultaneous reconstruction with alloplastic materials. The purpose of this study is to examine the experience and results obtained in three different and independent institutes where PMF has been adopted in 91 patients for head and neck cancer reconstructions. The authors report their departments' separate but simultaneous experiences with PMF for small and middle-size soft tissue defects in a 10-year period.