The Contrast Research Of Submental Island Flap And Radial Forearm Flap In Reconstruction Of The Semi-tongue Defects

Objective Compare the clinical effect of Submental Island Flap and RadialForearm Flap used in reconstruction of the Semi-tongue defects. Explore theapplication value of the Submental Island Flap which was used in reconstructionof the tongue defects.Methods From August2002to June2009,45patients with tongue cancer,who were hospitalized in the Head and Neck Surgery of Guangxi MedicalUniversity Tumor Hospital,were carried out tongue cancer radical surgery.Tongue defect from tongue cancer was repairer immediately with SubmentalIsland Flap (n=18) and Radial Forearm Flap (n=27). Surgical advantages such asthe surgery time,blood loss and surgical complications were compared betweenthese two groups and got some perspective on the free flaps survived: thetongue appearance, tongue mobility, language, chewing and swallowingfunction.Results The surgery time of making submental island flap and radialforearm flap is （46.83±7.75）min and（61.25±10.79）min. The surgery time ofSubmental Island Flap is apparently shorter than Radial Forearm Flap(P﹤ 0.05).Blood loss were （24.44±4.04）ml and（28.81±5.49） ml.bleeding loss inthe submental island flap preparation significantly is less than the forearm flap(P﹤0.05).In the SIF group,one marginal necrosis that result in wounddehiscence occurred and one skin island necrosis,without other surgicalcomplications.The flap blood supply was good after debridement.The successrate of the flap transplantation is94.44%(17/18).The remaining17cases allsurvived and the donor site was sutured directly..In the RFF group,one Ischemicnecrosis was found because of the venous thrombosis, without other surgicalcomplications. Rescue was invalid.we direct sutured after debridement. Thesuccess rate of the flap transplantation is96.30%(26/27). Full-thickness skingraft was used in supply area.Partial forearm lefted over a large surgical scar.There was no difference between the success rate of the two kinds flap. Thetongue appearance、 tongue mobility、 language、 chewing and swallowingfunction were comparable between the two group, P＞0.05.Conclusion In the semi-tongue defect, the submental island flap has manyadvantages such as producing simple, shorter spents, lessbleeding, wound concealed, and having the same effect of radial forearm flap.SIF is an effective means of the complement of the radial forearmflap and tongue defect, particularly suitable for young tonguecancer patients who require a higher pleasing in appearance. We should becareful to use SIF when the patients have Cervical lymph node metastasis.