Tongue-flaps--turntable and a two-stage forked flap in primary reconstruction after excision of oral carcinomas

The tongue provides adequate material for lining in repair after excisional surgery for oral carcinoma, involving primarily the cheek and the floor of the mouth. Two flaps are described that utilize about one-third of the tongue. One of the flaps is based on a turntable principle and is attached only at its base to the mucosa. The other is a two-stage procedure, in which the tongue is forked at the time of admission when the patient is being prepared. The smaller prong on the same side is opened on the external aspect like an oyster shell. This procedure has the advantage of needing no twisting of the flap to bridge the defect.