Anterolateral Thigh Perforator Flap Versus Radial Forearm Free Flap In Oral Soft Tissue Defect Reconstruction

Objective:Applied the anterolateral thigh perforator flap and the radial forearm free flap to the reconstruction of oral and maxillofacial soft tissue defects respectively to evaluate the clinical effect of the two flaps and compare the patients’ subjective satisfaction degree.Methods:From October 2017 to April 2019,35 patients with oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors who need immediate repair of anterolateral thigh perforator flap or radial forearm free flap after extended resection of malignant tumors in our hospital were selected.14 patients were treated with anterolateral thigh perforator flap and 21 patients were treated with radial forearm free flap.The data of the two groups were analyzed by the retrospective study to compare the survival rate,the appearance and function of the donor area and the recipient area between the two groups,and the University of Washington quality of life scale(UW-Qo L)was used to compare the subjective satisfaction of the patients in the two groups by telephone or outpatient follow-up.Results:The survival rate of anterolateral thigh perforator flap and the radial forearm free flap was 92.9% and 100% respectively(P > 0.05).The incidence of complications in pigmentation,permanent dysfunction or temporary dysfunction was significantly lower than that in the radial forearm free flap group(P = 0.003,0.038 and 0.000 respectively,P < 0.05).In the later period,the function of recipient area and the subjective satisfaction of patients were similar(P > 0.05).Conclusions:The anterolateral thigh perforator flap and radial forearm free flap both can be used to reconstruct the oral and maxillofacial soft tissue defects.In the later period,they are similar in the function recovery and the subjective satisfaction degree of the patients,but the complication rate of the donor area is lower in the anterolateral thigh perforator flap group.It is suggested that the anterolateral thigh perforator flap should be the first choice to reconstruct the defect of oral soft tissue.