Submental flap reconstruction for medium sized tongue defects: technique and surgical outcome-a retrospective study

Background: Defects of the tongue has major effect on speech and swallowing. Free flaps serve as an ideal choice for reconstruction but in developing countries, local alternative decreasing morbidity improving functional outcome with easy reproducibility by majority head neck surgeons. Surgical outcomes associated submental (SMF) used medium-sized defects was evaluated well a novel modification technique to safeguard feeding vessel presented.Methods: A total 40 patients cancer who underwent SMF from 2014 2017 minimum 2 year follow up were retrospectively studied. The patient characteristics, tumor stage, nodal status, intraoperative findings, postoperative complications, locoregional recurrence, cosmetic satisfaction noted.Results: Out patients, 27 had pT2, 7 pT3 6 pT4 disease while pN1 pN2 disease. Total flap necrosis, marginal skin paddle necrosis loss observed 0, 5 1 patient(s), respectively. Venous congestion most common complication seen no orocutaneous fistula or mandibular palsy seen. Five recurrence two distant metastases. Functional excellent patients.Conclusions: is reliable convenient that can free tongue.