The Effect of Radiation Therapy on the Success of the Use of Submental Flap in the Reconstruction of Oral Cavity Defects

Abstract

   Purpose: To evaluate the effect of previously performed radiation therapy on the successful use of a submental flap in oral reconstruction.   Material and methods: The study included 52 patients who underwent reconstruction of oral cavity defects using a submental flap between February 2015 and January 2021. Radiation therapy was performed in 13 patients in the preoperative period at different time periods and in different doses.   Results: From February 2015 to August 2021, to 52 patients submental flap was used to reconstruct oral cavity defects after surgical treatment of oral mucosal cancer. 13 patients received radiation therapy before surgical treatment compared to 39 who did not. In eleven cases, partial flap necrosis occurred, of which 3 underwent radiation therapy to two in a radical dose before surgical treatment. In two cases, there was a discrepancy of sutures in the oral cavity, one in each group, which did not require surgical intervention and were closed with conservative treatment. Two patients who underwent radiation therapy developed a fistula communicating with the oral cavity and neck healed spontaneously with conservative management. Marginal mandibular nerve palsy developed in three patients, one in the group with radiation therapy, the rest without a history of radiation therapy.   Conclusions: Total flap necrosis was not observed in any group. Thus, preoperative radiation therapy is not a contraindication to the use of a submental flap to reconstruct oral cavity defects with relatively acceptable complications. The submental flap is easy to harvest, reliable, universal flap to reconstruct oral cavity defects.