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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
Coronoid-Temporalis Pedicled Flap for Orbital Floor Defect Reconstruction
Published on: December 5, 2025
Functional benefit after modification of radial forearm free flap for soft palate reconstruction
Jin-Hwan Kim1, Hyung-Ro Chu, Jeong-Min Kang
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hallym University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Objectives:
To compare the velopharyngeal function, swallowing and speech of the conventional and modified radial forearm free flap (RFFF) for soft palate reconstruction.
Methods:
Retrospective clinical study. Twenty-eight patients who underwent oropharyngeal reconstruction with RFFF were divided into two groups: 10 patients had conventional folded RFFF and 18 patients underwent modified method.
Results:
The average speech intelligibility score in modified RFFF group was 8.0+/-2.4, and 6.2+/-2.2 in conventional RFFF group (P<0.05). The nasalance was 27.4+/-7.8% in modified group and 38.6+/-2.7% in conventional group during no nasal passage reading and 43.6+/-7.3% in modified group, 55.2+/-7.6% in conventional group during high nasal passage reading (P<0.05). The subjective swallowing functional score was 2.8 in modified group and 2.1 in conventional group.
Conclusion:
The speech assessment and nasalance demonstrate a more favorable outcome in modified group than conventional group.