Prevertebral fascia flap in hypopharyngeal reconstruction: a preliminary report

Ablative surgery for pyriform sinus cancer often leaves a defect which cannot be closed primarily. Many techniques for hypopharyngeal reconstruction have been described but no single technique can be recommended for use in all situations. The prevertebral fascia flap described in this article provides an alternative to hypopharyngeal repair when a more complex technique is contra-indicated. It is a one stage procedure, fashioned with locally available tissue, and technically simple. Its use in two anecdotal cases is described herewith.