Elongated Miofascial Temporal Flap in Comparison with Standard Surgical Procedure of Temporal Muscle Reconstruction

Flap of the temporal muscle (m. temporalis) with its natural position, its mass and its length, compared with other bound and free microvascular flaps, is the method of choice for covering the middle part of the face after the removal of large tumor masses.

The study included a sample of 36 patients who were surgically treated due to malignant process at the middle face level with the performed partial, total or bilateral maxillectomy at the Clinic for Maxillofacial Surgery, University Clinical Center in Sarajevo. The sample is divided into three groups.

The usual procedure of lifting the temporal flap in the first group, at the second extension of the coronoid processus. A group of three-elongated myofascial flap, which includes lifting the muscle along with deep temporal branches of maxillary artery with deep temporal fascia, its two layers and associated stem of thesuperficial temporal artery.

Statistical analysis of the length indicated that in group III the mean length was 9.83 cm, group II- 8.25, and group I- 6 cm. The longest segmental lobe in group three provides safer work and the length of the lifted lobe with double vascular stem. This provides coverage of defects that cross over the median line of the middle face. The results coincide with the comparative world studies.

For large defects at the meddle part of the face that overlap the median line, an extraordinary solution is elongated myofascial flap with double vascular supply, with a larger flap mass and a length of about 9.83 cm.