Versatility of Massester Muscle Flap

A. Thangavelu*, P. Subramaniam**, Balaji Mahalingam***
Periodicity:October - December'2012

Abstract

The aesthetic and functional impact of major cancer ablative surgery in the head and neck can be devastating for the patient. As increasing emphasis is placed on the quality of life, head and neck surgeons nowadays should be equally concerned with the importance of functional rehabilitation in the head and neck region (to preserve or restore the vital functions of speech, swallowing, and facial appearance) as well as the adequacy of cancer resection. It is not only the size of tumors but also the combination of size and methods of reconstruction that affect the quality of life in patients. The reconstruction is always planned according to the tissues involved and lost because of the disease. Various techniques have been practiced for decades for adequate reconstruction of lost tissues. Skin grafts, loco-regional flaps, and distant flaps are in use with various outcomes and results. Despite the various available techniques, the surgeon still needs reconstructive material with maximum advantages and least morbidity. The Masseter muscle flap, a loco-regional flap, offers a reliable method of reconstruction in selected defects without the disadvantages of cosmetic and functional loss. We report a series of 4 cases of histopathologically proven carcinoma involving retromolar trigone treated with surgical excision followed by reconstruction of retro mandibular mucosal defects using the Masseter muscle flap.

Keywords

Masseter Muscle Flap, Reconstruction, Head and Neck Cancer, Retromolar Trigone.

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