The temporalis muscle flap: an evaluation and review of 38 cases

This article analyzes the authors' experience with the temporal myofascial flap in orbital, maxillary, floor of the mouth, tongue, retromolar trigone, and buccal mucosa reconstruction after oncologic surgery. Thirty-eight patients were treated and evaluated after using this technique. Four of the patients received the flap to restore orbital defects; the other 34 flaps were used in oral reconstruction. The flap remained viable in all instances. Most of the patients experienced no perioperative complications. Ten patients (29.4%) with flaps transposed to the oral cavity showed partial wound dehiscence. Two patients experienced temporomandibular joint dysfunction, two severe reduction in the oral aperture, 22 had mild depression of the temporal fossa, and four had mild to severe alteration in the facial aesthetics secondary to bone resection. All flaps transposed to the oral cavity showed good epithelialization and adaptation to the recipient site.