Submental Island Flaps for Lateral Reconstruction: Technical Refinements for Optimal Outcomes and Resource Efficiency

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Head and Neck Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Lateral facial, parotid, and temporal bone defects often require complex reconstruction.
• Free flap reconstruction is a common method but can be resource-intensive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe modifications to the submental island flap (SMIF) procedure.
• To evaluate the impact of these modifications on surgical outcomes and resource utilization.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series of adult patients undergoing SMIF reconstruction for lateral facial, parotid, or temporal bone defects.
• Data collected on operative time, length of stay (LOS), and postoperative outcomes.

Main Results:

• Twenty-eight patients included; mean age 71.7 years, 80% male.
• Mean operative time 347 minutes; median LOS 2.5 days.
• All flaps survived with no reoperations or readmissions.

Conclusions:

• Modified SMIFs are safe and effective for reconstructing lateral facial, parotid, and temporal bone defects.
• SMIFs offer reduced operative time, decreased healthcare resource use, and lower reoperation rates compared to free flaps.
• SMIFs represent an excellent alternative for lateral defect reconstruction, particularly given increasing focus on healthcare resource allocation.