[Lipotransfer after free-flap tongue reconstruction can improve dysphagia and articulation disorders: a case report]

Atrophy of tongue after free-flap reconstruction often leads to functional problems like dysphagia and articulation disorders. Lipotransfer might resolve this issue. We describe a case of repeated lipotransfer into an atrophied reconstructed tongue.A 66-year-old patient with a squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue underwent hemiglossectomy and reconstruction of the tongue by a free radial forearm flap. After atrophy of the reconstructed tissue, repeated sessions of lipotransfer were undertaken to augment the atrophic tissue. Three sessions of lipotransfer resulted in satisfactory augmentation of the atrophied reconstructed tongue, leading to improvement of dysphagia and articulation.To our knowledge, this is the first report of lipotransfer used to augment a flap inside the oral cavity. We propose this tool as a potential aid to improve typical tongue reconstruction sequelae.