Laryngeal function reconstruction with hyoid osteomuscular flap in partial laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer

The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcome of using a hyoid osteomuscular flap to repair the laryngeal defect after extended vertical partial laryngectomy. A total of 26 glottic cancer patients underwent reconstruction with osteomuscular hyoid flaps following tumor resections. Ipsilateral arytenoid cartilage was resected in all cases, and the upper region of the cricoid cartilage was resected in 11 cases. Selective ipsilateral level II, III and IV neck dissections were performed in node (N)-positive patients and ipsilateral level II, and III neck dissections in N0 patients. The bone grafts were then fixed to the cricoid and contralateral thyroid cartilages. Invasion of the thyroid cartilage endochorium was present in 12 cases and lymph nodes metastases was present in 11 cases. The extubation rate of the tracheostomy tube was 100%. The glottides of all patients were almost symmetrical. Patients were followed up for 2-7 years. One patient developed local recurrence, ipsilateral regional recurrence, contralateral regional recurrence and lung metastasis, respectively. The disease-free survival rates at 3 and 5 years were 100% (20/20) and 79% (11/14), respectively. Overall, laryngeal function recovered well upon hyoid osteomuscular flap reconstruction following extended vertical partial laryngectomy, with a high extubation rate and good sound quality.