Re-innervation pattern of heterotopically transposed lingual flaps.

Area of Science:

• Oral surgery
• Histology
• Regenerative medicine

Background:

• Pedicled tongue flaps are a common surgical technique for oral defect reconstruction.
• Long-term histological fate and re-innervation of these flaps post-pedicle division remain understudied.

Observation:

• This study investigates the histological changes in pedicled tongue flaps used for oral reconstruction.
• Two cases are presented: one for lower lip vermilion repair and another for a hard palate defect.

Findings:

• Histological examination revealed the presence of both myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers within the transposed flaps.
• Evidence of free nerve endings and encapsulated receptors indicates successful re-innervation and functional recovery.
• Similar histological patterns were observed in both lip and palate reconstruction cases.

Implications:

• These findings support the long-term viability and potential functional recovery of pedicled tongue flaps after surgical repair.
• Understanding the re-innervation process can inform surgical techniques and patient outcomes in oral reconstruction.
• This research provides histological evidence for the successful integration and neural adaptation of transposed lingual tissues.