• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.57-59
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• 2011

Tongue reconstruction after oncologic resection with free flap is important to conserve function and shape. Vertical rectus myocutaneous free flap is usually used for total tongue reconstruction, but our patient was thin and primary closure after flap elevation seemed hard. So we used anterolateral thigh free flap to reduce donor site morbidity and to maintain bulk of the tongue as much as possible. Deepithelization of both middle side of flap and folding was done to mimic normal tongue base's shape and volume. Flap survived without complication and patient underwent concurrent chemoradiation therapy three weeks after surgery. Anterolateral thigh free flap can be good candidate for total tongue reconstruction especially in thin patient.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.161-167
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• 2006

After total glossectomy, recovery of swallowing and speech function can greatly improve quality of life. The reconstructed tongue must be thick enough to contact with the hard palate for articulation. If the free flap is denervation, it may procede to have atrophy postoperatively. Therefor it is difficult to maintain the tongue volume for a long period of time. To resolve this problem, we have used a innervated rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap and maintaining the volume through a neurorrhaphy. 7 patients underwent immediate reconstruction using a reinnervated rectus abdominis musculocutaneous free flap in which included intercostal nerve was anastomosed to the remaining hypoglossal nerve. The reinnervated rectus abdominis musculocutaneous free flap has provided good tongue contour with sufficient bulk and shown no obvious atrophy in all patients even though postoperative 9 months later. Considering swallowing and articulation, we concluded that reinnervated rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap is a viable method after total glossectomy

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제35권3호
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• pp.255-260
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• 2008

Purpose: Tongue cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the oral cavity and the ultimate goal in treatment of the cancer is not only complete excision and meticulous closure of the wound, but also, reconstruction of a demensional and functional tongue. Our study focuses on various factors, such as defect size, extent of tumor, age, application of mandibulectomy or radiotherapy, and their influences on postoperative speech and swallowing function. Methods: Our study was based on 59 patients who underwent tongue cancer operation and reconstruction of the tongue. Speech and swallowing were evaluated according to categories documented by Sultan and Teichgraeber. Patients were classified into 3 groups as partial glossectomy, hemiglossectomy and total glossectomy groups for evaluation. The average age of the patients were 51, and the mean follow-up period was 4 years 2 months. Results: The partial glossectomy group showed statistically relevant results for speech articulation and swallowing abilities compared to the total glossectomy group. In cases of defects involving the mouth floor, the group showed decreased results compared to the group without mouth floor involvement. Increased age showed decreased postoperative results with statistical significance, while mandibulectomy and radiotherapy revealed no statistically significant data. Analysis according to TNM staging resulted in decreased functional result with advanced staging without statistical significance. Conclusion: To summarize the factors influencing the functional outcome in tongue reconstruction, younger patients and early stage cancer with minimal surgical extent revealed more satisfying results while mandibulectomy and radiation did not have influence on our analysis. Addition of various influencing factors and studies with longer follow up periods on our patient groups may provide effective data for more satisfying functional outcomes in the future.

• 대한두경부종양학회지
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.119-122
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• 2009

Objectives : Ablation of carcinoma of the tongue leads to deficits in speech and swallowing, but none to date has provided all of the qualities of mobility and sensation to simulate the complex function of the tongue. The authors evaluated postoperative swallowing and pronouncing function in patients who underwent tongue reconstruction using free flap. Material and Methods : This is a retrospective review documenting the outcome of 42 patients between January of 1991 and August of 2008. We classified patients according to the size of resection of the tongue like as 7 partial glossectomy, 25 hemiglossectomy, 2 subtotal glossectomy, and 8 total glossectomy. Swallowing function was graded into 4 point scale and pronouncing function was analyzed using picture consonant articulation test. Aspiration was evaluated with videofluoroscopic swallowing study. Results : The average points for swallowing function were 3.43 in partial glossectomy, 3.52 in hemiglossectomy, 3 in subtotal glossectomy, and 2.63 in total glossectomy. The percentage of consonants correct showed 76.5% in partial glossectomy, 72.29% in hemiglossectomy, 47.69% in subtotal glossectomy, and 29.94% in total glossectomy. Aspiration was noted in 3 patients(1 hemiglossectomy and 2 total glossectomy) and 2 total glossectomy patients were taken permanent feeding gastrostomy. Conclusion : Free flap gave us proper volume in tongue reconstruction and showed good result in preserving swallowing function. Swallowing function difference according to the size of defect showed no statistical significance, whereas articulation function was shown to decrease in accuracy as the size of defect was larger.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제33권5호
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• pp.557-562
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• 2006

Purpose: Advanced carcinoma of the tongue is a devastating disease which may cause severe speech or swallowing dysfunction. But, none to date has provided all of the complex functions of the tongue. The purpose of this study is to review our experiences with individuals who underwent glossectomy followed by reconstruction using free tissue transfer. Methods: Between February 1998 and February 2005, twenty-four patients underwent glossectomy followed by free tissue transfer reconstruction. The defects of tongue caused by partial or subtotal glossectomy were reconstructed by means of radial forearm or lateral thigh free flap with nerve innervation. Especially for the patients who underwent total glossectomy, we reconstructed deglutition muscles anatomically with nerve reinnervation, a procedure that allows the grafted muscle to maintain good tongue bulk without obvious atrophy. Results: Patients were reviewed to determine their functional outcome as it related to speech, deglutition, and aspiration. All patients achieved oral intake of a soft diet and acceptable speech. Conclusion: Although reconstruction following glossectomy using free tissue transfer is not ideal, this procedure is safe and reliable, and provides predictable results. A future challenge is the development of a surgical procedure for reconstruction of a tongue that maintains mobility and sensation using neurotized flaps.

• 대한두경부종양학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한두경부종양학회 1997년도 제14차 학술대회 연제순서 및 초록집
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• pp.295.1-295.1
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• 1997

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.243-249
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• 1997

The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical availability of a variety of intraoral local flaps in reconstruction of oral soft tissue defects, Forty patients with oral soft tissue defects were treated by tongue, buccinator, palatal, labial, facial artery musculomucosal, buccal fat pad, and masseter muscle crossover flap. Total 43 intraoral flaps were used to reconstruct a variety of intraoral soft tissue defects, such as oronasal fistula, oroantral fistula, traumatic deformities and other. The age of patients ranged from 7 to 72 years, with mean age of 39.6 years. Follow up period ranged from 2 to 66 months, mean follow up period of 21.6 months. There were 9 complications, of which four were partial necrosis, three infections, one total necrosis, and 1 speech problem. Except for total necrosis, most of the recipient sited healed uneventually without severe morbidity. We consider that a variety of intraoral local flaps can be available for reconstruction of small of moderate large intraoral soft tissue defects.

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.38-44
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• 2021

Background: The free flap surgical method is useful for the reconstruction of head and neck defects. This study retrospectively analyzed the results of head and neck reconstructions using various types of free flaps over the past 30 years. Methods: Between 1989 and 2018, a total of 866 free flap procedures were performed on 859 patients with head and neck defects, including 7 double free flaps. The causes of vascular crisis and salvage rate were analyzed, and the total flap survival rate calculated among these patients. Additionally, the survival and complication rates for each flap type were compared. Results: The 866 cases included 557 radial forearm flaps, 200 anterolateral thigh flaps, 39 fibular osteocutaneous flaps, and 70 of various other flaps. The incidence of the vascular crisis was 5.1%; its most common cause was venous thrombosis (52.3%). Salvage surgery was successful in 52.3% of patients, and the total flap survival rate was 97.6%. The success rate of the radial forearm flap was higher than of the anterolateral flap (p< 0.01), and the primary sites of malignancy were the tongue, tonsils, and hypopharynx, respectively. Conclusion: The free flap technique is the most reliable method for head and neck reconstruction; however, the radial forearm free flap showed the highest success rate (98.9%). In patients with malignancy, flap failure was more common in the anterolateral thigh (5.5%) and fibular (5.1%) flaps.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제46권5호
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• pp.449-454
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• 2019

Background Most patients with head and neck cancer successfully undergo oncologic resection followed by free or local flap reconstruction, depending on the tumor's size and location. Despite effective curative resection and reconstruction, head and neck cancer patients still face a high risk of recurrence and the possibility of a second primary cancer. Moreover, surgeons hesitate to perform sequential reconstruction following curative resection for several reasons. Few large-scale studies on this subject are available. Therefore, we retrospectively evaluated the outcome of sequential head and neck reconstruction to determine the possible risks. Methods In total, 467 patients underwent head and neck reconstruction following cancer resection at our center from 2008 to 2017. Of these cases, we retrospectively reviewed the demographic and clinical features of 58 who had sequential head and neck reconstruction following resection of recurrent cancer. Results Our study included 43 males (74.1%) and 15 females (25.9%). The mean age at the initial operation was $55.4{\pm}15.3years$, while the mean age at the most recent operation was $59.0{\pm}14.3years$. The interval between the first and second operations was $49.2{\pm}62.4months$. Twelve patients (20.7%) underwent surgery on the tongue, and 12 (20.7%) had procedures on the oropharynx. Thirty-four patients (58.6%) received a sequential free flap reconstruction, and 24 patients (41.4%) were treated using locoregional flaps. No cases of flap failure occurred. Conclusions Our findings suggest that patients who need additional operations with recurrent head and neck cancer could optimally benefit from sequential curative resections and reconstructions.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.113-121
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• 1994

Large oral defects following tumor resection pose formidable challenge for the reconstructive surgeon. Ideally, wound closure should utilize like tissue in providing expedient, single-stage closure, returning maximum function while minimizing deformity. Recent methods have reported and utilize variable mucocutaneous flaps. However, the ideal reconstruction has yet to defined. The small bowel serves as a readily available donor site for satisfying reconstructive needs in oropharyngeoesophageal defects. Segments of jejunum may be opened along the antimesenteric border and transferred to oral defect as free tissue transfers. Some of the benefits of this technique have included a one-stage procedure, abundant donor tissue with characteristics similar to oral mucosa, near normal facial appearance, preservation of maximum tongue function and relief of annoying xerostomia by jejunal mucous secretion. Three cases re presented in which two cases show successful use of this flap. The other one patient developed total necrosis of this flap. We report cases of reconstruction using free jejunal flap transfer in oral reconstruction.