Functional Outcomes Regarding Facial Artery Musculomucosal Flap for Reconstruction of Partial Glossectomy Defects

Area of Science:

• Head and Neck Surgery
• Oral Oncology
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Surgical management of oral tongue and floor of mouth cancers presents significant reconstruction challenges.
• Inadequate reconstruction of glossectomy defects can impair speech and swallowing due to tongue tethering.
• Limited functional outcome data exists for the pedicled facial artery musculomucosal (FAMM) flap in partial glossectomy reconstruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the functional outcomes of the pedicled FAMM flap for oral cavity reconstruction after partial glossectomy.
• To assess the impact of FAMM flap reconstruction on speech and swallowing capabilities.
• To determine the reliability of the FAMM flap for various sizes of oral tongue defects.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of patients undergoing FAMM flap reconstruction for oral cavity defects (2009-2013).
• Data collection included postoperative complications, defect size, operative time, and functional results.
• Subjective functional status assessed using the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory and speech self-assessment.

Main Results:

• Eight of 18 eligible patients (44%) completed functional questionnaires 6 months post-treatment.
• Respondents reported minimal impact on eating habits and social exclusion.
• All respondents rated their speech as good to excellent, with no reported job difficulties.

Conclusions:

• The FAMM flap is a dependable option for reconstructing small oral tongue defects, preserving function.
• It serves as a viable alternative to free flaps for medium-sized defects.
• Further patient functional outcome and longitudinal studies are recommended for optimizing reconstruction strategies.