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Perforator based rectus free tissue transfer for head and neck reconstruction: New reconstructive advantages from an
Stephen Y Kang1, Matthew E Spector2, Douglas B Chepeha3
1The Ohio State University, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Columbus, OH, USA.
Objectives:
To demonstrate three reconstructive advantages of the perforator based rectus free tissue transfer: long pedicle, customizable adipose tissue, and volume reconstruction without muscle atrophy within a contained space.
Materials And Methods:
Thirty patients with defects of the head and neck were reconstructed with the perforator based rectus free tissue transfer.
Results:
Transplant success was 93%. Mean pedicle length was 13.4cm. Eleven patients (37%) had vessel-poor necks and the long pedicle provided by this transplant avoided the need for vein grafts in these patients. Adipose tissue was molded in 17 patients (57%). Twenty-five patients (83%) had defects within a contained space, such as the orbit, where it was critical to have a transplant that avoided muscle atrophy.
Conclusions:
The perforator based rectus free tissue transfer provides a long pedicle, moldable fat for flap customization, and is useful in reconstruction of defects within a contained space where volume loss due to muscle atrophy is prevented.
