| Objective:To compare intraoperative, postoperative, and functional results of the radial forearm fasciocutaneous flap(RFFF) against the thinned anterolateral thigh cutaneous flap (tALT) reconstruction for oral and oropharyngeal reconstruction.Methods:Between January2009and January2012,42reconstructions were performed in patients submitted to surgery for oral and oropharyngeal carcinoma using, in32cases, a radial forearm fasciocutaneous flap and, in10, an anterolateral thigh cutaneous flap. Compare duration of operation, quality of life,survival rate, surgical complications, and speech and swallowing function of the two group(RFFF vs tALT).Result:The study included42patients,32with RFFF reconstruction and10with tALT reconstruction. Sex, age, and TNM stage Mean flap size were similar for both groups. In patients treated with the radial forearm fasciocutaneous flap, results showed93.8%flap survival; in cases treated with the anterolateral thigh cutaneous flap,80%flap survival (p=0.37). Quality of life and Functional results at receiving site, were comparable in both groups. Functional results, at donor site, were less successful in the radial forearm fasciocutaneous flap group, with permanent forearm movement impairment in21.9%of cases; in the anterolateral thigh cutaneous flap group, only transitory gait impairment occurred in10%of patients.Conclusion:In our experience, the thinned anterolateral thigh cutaneous flap is comparable to radial forearm fasciocutaneous flap in terms of functional results at receiving site and quality of life, but, having no limitation in availability of donor tissue, it allows a more extended resection of the tumour. Moreover, the donor site can be closed primarily with only an inconspicuous curvilinear scar left over the thigh and with significantly reduced functional impairment.But the operation is more difficult than harvesting forearm flap, so it requires the surgeon have a high degree of operation. |
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