Summary
Nowadays, microsurgery performed for oral reconstruction of cancer patients, has become
the standard treatment in restoring oral functions. The free radial forearm flap (FRFF)
is still apparently the first reconstructive choice in oral cavity cancers. Recently
the anterolateral thigh flap (ALTF) seemed to challenge the superiority of FRFF. The
lack of functional data on which to base this recent supposition is the reason for
this new research. Twenty reconstructed patients were enrolled for this study. Speech,
swallowing, and donor site complications were studied to assess differences between
the two techniques. Results show that difference in function between ALTF and FRFF
groups is statistically insignificant. Donor site risks and complications seem to
be the only variables among groups. These variables may be used as indicators when
making a surgical choice.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 27, 2007
Accepted:
November 14,
2006
Received:
March 16,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
