Myocutaneous v/s micro vascular free flaps in oral cavity reconstruction - a comparative study

Micro vascular free tissue transfer scores over the traditional myocutaneous flaps by providing better cosmesis and function. However, the increased operating tine and costs and the necessity for two operating teams sometimes, negate these advantages and even where this facility is freely available, myoentancous flaps continue to be widely used.To determine the ideal choice of reconstruction in patients after oral resection, we compared our experience with these two methods of reconstruction. Since 1997, when we first started micro vascular reconstruction, 17 patients have undergone this procedure for oral reconstruction. During this same period, 40 patients had pectoralis major myocutaneous flap reconstruction of the oral cavity. These two groups are compared with regard to cosmetic and functional results (as measured by patient's level of satisfaction) operating time, duration of hospitalization, cost and complications.

Eightv seven percent of the patients in the micro vascular group and 75% in the myocutaneous group were satisfied with the cosmetic and functional results. In the microvascular group, average operating time was increased by 4 hours; hospitalization by 3 days and average cost of treatment was doubled. Flap failures and re-explorations were significantly higher in the micro vascular group.Based on these results, we would like to suggest the ideal method of reconstruction of the oral cavity in specific subgroups of patients in a corporate hospital setting.