Central island myomucosal tongue flap

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Oncology

Background:

• Resection of T2 and T3 anterior floor of mouth lesions often leads to functional and cosmetic deficits.
• Current reconstructive methods may not fully restore speech, deglutition, and appearance.

Observation:

• This study evaluates the central island myomucosal tongue flap for reconstructing intermediate-sized anterior floor of mouth defects.
• The flap shares vascular characteristics with myocutaneous flaps, offering comparable reliability.

Findings:

• The central island myomucosal tongue flap proved to be a dependable reconstruction method in seven patients.
• No instances of flap nonviability, delayed healing, or wound breakdown were observed.

Implications:

• This flap provides a reliable, rapidly developed, and locally sourced option for anterior floor of mouth reconstruction.
• It offers comparable reliability to myocutaneous flaps with reduced impact on articulation and deglutition, and no cosmetic deformity.