Functional and aesthetic reconstruction of extensive oral ablative defects using temporalis muscle flap: a case report and a sort review

Temporal Flaps in Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery: A Systematic Review of Surgical Techniques

The temporal region is a great source of vascularized flap, providing extremely variable and versatile options for reconstruction in head and neck surgery. Its popularity has led to the conception of a large variety of different flaps, in terms of contents and design. Temporal flaps are highly pliable and flexible, providing adequate bulk to obliterate dead spaces and improving engraftment, thus facilitating wound healing. The need to access different anatomical compartments, often far from the original flap anatomical site, has led surgeons to develop techniques to enlarge pedicles and bulk, by reverting and splitting flaps' contents, as well as through partial mandibular and zygomatic resection. To further increase versatility, a multilayered combination of different regional tissues and muscle segmentation techniques has been described. Historically, each flap has had its own proponents and opponents, but a pointy review systematizing techniques and comparatively analyzing different flaps was still missing in the literature. The field of use of some flaps has been progressively limited by the increasing relevance of free tissue transfers, which nowadays may provide success rates up to 95% with a constrained morbidity, thus offering an effective alternative, when available. Given the wide range of reconstructive strategies based on temporal flaps, there is still a great debate on nomenclature and surgical techniques. The present study systematizes the topic, classifying regional flaps according to contents and indications. Harvesting techniques are described stepwise and schematically illustrated, thus offering an indispensable tool to the armamentarium of reconstructive surgeons.

Temporal Muscle Flap as a Treatment of an Extensive Cleft Palate in an Adult Patient

For the management of cleft palate, the surgical approach has been suggested at an early stage even in childhood, varying in the number of interventions. Once the interventions are not performed at appropriate times, such as sequences that may accompany specific psychological, functional, and aesthetic effects. Since it has been indicated, temporal muscle flap is a technique with satisfactory results for a resolution of extensive clef palate in adult patients. The purpose of this paper is reporting a case of temporal muscle flap in the soft and hard palate of an adult with a reconstruction of the donor area with a titanium mesh. A 37 year old male patient with cleft lip/palate, complained of difficulty in speech, chewing, swallowing, and breathing. Clinically, it was observed oroantral communication in the region of the hard and soft palate, with a previous cheiloplasty. A temporal rotation was planned to close the fissure for the treatment. The modified coronal approach was used. Temporal muscle traction and its interposition in the palate region were performed through the tunneling technique, and mass suturing was performed. After 3 years, he presented satisfactory results, with the improvement of the quality of life, as well as the area of exposure. In conclusion, since it has been indicated, temporal muscle flap is a technique with satisfactory results for a resolution of extensive cleft palate in adult patients.

Continuous Validity of Temporalis Muscle Flap in Reconstruction of Postablative Palatomaxillary Defects

INTRODUCTION

Postablative palatomaxillary defects (PAPMDs) represent a challenging reconstructive problem. Temporalis muscle flap (TMF) has been widely used for reconstruction of these defects with minimal morbidity and satisfactory outcome.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To presents the authors' experience in the reconstruction of PAPMDs with TMF and to evaluate the validity of TMF in the reconstruction of such defects.

METHODS

This prospective study was conducted between July 2011 and July 2016 on selected patients for primary reconstruction of PAPMDs with TMF. Temporalis muscle flaps were assessed during surgery and postoperatively. Patients were followed up to evaluate functional and esthetic outcomes and detect complications.

RESULTS

This study included 32 patients with mean age 48.3 years. The pathology was squamous cell carcinoma in 15 patients (46.9%). Twenty-one patients (65.6%) had type II maxillectomy. Mean time of flap harvesting was 43 minutes. Zygomatic arch osteotomy was done in 3 patients while Coronoid osteotomy in 4 patients. Postoperatively, flaps were viable in 31 patients (96.9%) with good healing of recipient site. Flap epithelization completed within 28 to 59 days. Follow-up period was 13 to 55 months. Satisfactory functional and esthetic outcomes were reported in most of patients with no recurrence. Transient temporal nerve palsy occurred in 2 patients, limited mouth opening in 5 patients. One patient had Transient diplopia with enopthalmos and hypophthalmos. Flap failure occurred in another patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Temporalis muscle flap is still a valid reliable and versatile reconstructive tool in palatomaxillary reconstruction after ablative surgery. It has a good cosmetic and functional outcomes and minimal morbidity.

The modified temporalis muscle flap in reconstruction of palate and temporal deformity

PURPOSE

The purpose of this article was to introduce a modified temporalis muscle flap (TMF) which was used to reconstruct palate and temporal deformity.

PATIENT AND METHODS

This was a retrospective review of the use of the modified TMF in reconstruction of palate and temporal deformity. We evaluated the result which included operative time, bleeding, necrosis, infection, facial nerve deficit, and cosmetic deformity.

RESULTS

All the 16 patients accepted the modified TMF surgery successfully. There were no complications. All of them were satisfied with the postoperative appearance.

CONCLUSIONS

The modified TMF was a reliable and safe flap that can be used to reconstruct the surgical defect of plate and fill the temporal fossa.

Lateral Oropharyngeal Wall Coverage with Buccinator Myomucosal and Buccal Fat Pad Flaps

Background

Reconstruction of oropharyngeal defects after resection of oropharyngeal cancer is a significant challenge. The purpose of this study is to introduce reconstruction using a combination of a buccinator myomucosal flap and a buccal fat pad flap after cancer excision and to discuss the associated anatomy, surgical procedure, and clinical applications.

Methods

In our study, a combination of a buccinator myomucosal flap with a buccal fat pad flap was utilized for reconstruction after resection of oropharyngeal cancer, performed between 2013 and 2015. After oropharyngectomy, the defect with exposed vital structures was noted. A buccinator myomucosal flap was designed and elevated after an assessment of the flap pedicle. Without requiring an additional procedure, a buccal fat pad flap was easily harvested in the same field and gently pulled to obtain sufficient volume. The flaps were rotated and covered the defect. In addition, using cadaver dissections, we investigated the feasibility of transposing the flaps into the lateral oropharyngeal defect.

Results

The reconstruction was performed in patients with squamous cell carcinoma. The largest tumor size was 5 cm×2 cm (length×width). All donor sites were closed primarily. The flaps were completely epithelialized after four weeks, and the patients were followed up for at least six months. There were no flap failures or postoperative wound complications. All patients were without dietary restrictions, and no patient had problems related to mouth opening, swallowing, or speech.

Conclusions

A buccinator myomucosal flap with a buccal fat pad flap is a reliable and valuable option in the reconstruction of oropharyngeal defects after cancer resection for maintaining functionality.

Immediate reconstruction of palato-maxillary defect following tumor ablation using temporalis myofascial flap

The resection of oral cavity tumor and malignancies often causes functional disabilities like deglutition and articulation. Maxillectomy is a very common surgical procedure carried out for the management of benign and malignant tumors of maxilla. Irrespective of the procedure, there is a common end result that is the defect. Several soft tissue flaps can be used for reconstruction of maxillectomy defect. Keeping the parameters of reconstruction in mind it is ideal to reconstruct the maxillary defect with either the free flaps or the regional flaps. Of all regional flaps, the temporalis myofascial flap (TMF) provides a high degree of reliability, vascularity, adequate bulk, and proximity to the defect in the oral and maxillofacial region.

Comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation of a patient with maxillary arteriovenous malformation

Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the maxilla are rare and potentially life-threatening conditions that can pose a therapeutic dilemma. We reported the first case of maxillary AVM in a 15-year-old girl who was treated by marginal hemimaxillectomy including overlying palatal mucosa and immediate replantation of the segment after removing the AVM tissues and teeth and covering by a full-thickness pedicled temporal muscle flap rotated into the mouth. Then, this preserved bone underwent distraction osteogenesis and dental implant rehabilitation successfully. This method was previously used for the definitive treatment of mandibular AVMs, and in this case, we applied this method for the first time in maxillary AVMs. In conclusion, this surgical method may be considered as a safe, convenient, and effective treatment and reconstructive modality for such vascular malformations in the maxilla and restores function and symmetry of the jaws while obviating the need for bone harvesting and future major reconstructive operations.

Maxillary-fronto-temporal approach for removal of recurrent malignant infratemporal fossa tumors: Anatomical and clinical study

PURPOSE

For recurrent malignant tumors occurring in the infratemporal fossa, it is difficult to select a proper surgical approach. We explore the efficiency of a new approach for removal of recurrent malignant tumors involving the infratemporal fossa based on the measurement on three-dimension CT, observation of six cadaveric specimens, and our surgical experience.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The distances between the surgical landmarks in the infratemporal fossa were measured using CT data to determine the safe distance. And anatomy observation was examined on 6 formalin-fixed cadaveric specimens. Data from seven patients with recurrent malignant infratemporal fossa tumors were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTS

The mean distance of the medial pterygoid plate from the zygoma was 52.12 mm. The maxillary artery can be found between the deep surface of the condyle and the sphenomandibular ligament, with mean distance of 8.25 ± 3.22 mm to the inferior border of the capsule of the temporomandibular joint. All tumors got gross resection using the maxillary-fronto-temporal approach with minor complication.

CONCLUSIONS

The advantages of the new approach include adequate protection of facial nerve with extended operation field; the exposed temporal muscle could be used to fill the dead space. This technique is especially useful to remove recurrent malignant infratemporal tumors safely.

Temporal muscle flap in reconstruction of maxillo-facial tissues

Aim of the study

Presents our experience in reconstruction of postsurgical defects with use of temporal muscle flap.

Material and methods

In the years 1996–2010 we treated 10 patients with malignant neoplasms of maxillo-facial region. Following tumor removal the fascia-muscle flaps of temporal muscle were used for reconstruction. Temporal muscle flaps were applied in 5 cases for reconstructing the defect of eye socket tissue after extensive resections and in the other 5 patients was used for reconstructing the defect of palate following maxillary resections.

Results

All the flaps of temporal muscle that were used for reconstructing eye sockets incorporated with no local reaction. In one case of flap applied into the oral cavity for tightly separate from nasal, partial necrosis of flap's edge and oro-nasal fistula occurred.

Conclusions

Fascia-muscular flap of temporal muscle is a simple, easy and effective method of tissue reconstruction in maxillo-facial region following extensive oncologic procedures.