The medial sural artery perforator flap in intra-oral reconstruction: A Northeast experience
R L Chalmers1, K M A Rahman1, S Young1
1Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Background:
The medial sural artery perforator (MSAP) flap is a fasciocutaneous flap that is gaining popularity for intra-oral reconstructions. The aim of this two-centre review was to evaluate the use of the MSAP flap in intra-oral reconstructions and report our experiences.
Methods:
Data were collected prospectively on 35 consecutive intra-oral reconstructions using the free MSAP flap. Patient details and intraoperative flap details were recorded.
Results:
Thirty-five patients underwent intra-oral reconstruction with a free MSAP flap (26 males and nine females). The average flap dimensions were a length of 8.03 cm, a width of 5.0 cm and a thickness of 7.1 mm. Twenty-two flaps had two perforators, and the average pedicle length was 11.1 cm. There were no flap losses. Ninety-one per cent of donor sites were closed primarily. There were two minor complications related to donor-site wound dehiscence, which required delayed skin grafting. The overall complication rate was 5.7%.
Conclusions:
The MSAP flap is a good choice for intra-oral reconstruction. It has reliable anatomy and provides thin, pliable skin with a long pedicle. In addition, donor morbidity is low as the donor site can be closed directly in most cases. It is currently our flap of choice for small intra-oral soft tissue defects.
