The islanded nasolabial flap for tongue reconstruction – Experience in our institute

Abstract

Background: Oral cancer ranks in the top three of all cancers in India, which accounts for over thirty per cent of all cancers reported in the country. Tongue cancers make a significant percentage among the oral cancer burden. Unfortunately, patients rarely present to the surgeon with a tongue cancer lesion small enough for a primary closure. Hence we frequently need some type of flap for reconstruction of the tongue defect following ablative surgery. In defects that are not small enough for a primary closure as well as not big enough for a more bulky flap like the PMMC or the free ALT flap, the islanded nasolabial flap is of great use to the surgeon for tongue reconstruction and should be part of the reconstructive armamentarium of every oral cancer surgeon. Aims and Objectives: To assess the difference in post-operative speech results between patients having flap reconstruction versus patients having primary closure, and to assess the complications of islanded nasolabial flap reconstruction. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study of 6 months with 11 patients having islanded nasolabial flap reconstruction and 18 patients having primary reconstruction. Results: Post-operative speech results of patients with flap reconstruction were as good as those having primary closure. Conclusions: Islanded nasolabial flap may be a good option for reconstruction of carefully selected tongue defects.