1
Return

Medial Sural Artery Perforator Flap for Tongue and Oral Cavity Reconstruction With Native Tongue Tip Preservation: Report of Three Cases

delete2026-02-14
delete0
delete
OA
AI
G
G Mantovani
S
Samuele Baldelli
C
Claudio Gio Francesco Blessent *
M
Massimo Pinelli
F
Francesco Mattioli
DOI:10.1002/micr.70196delete
deleteOriginal
deleteShare
deleteSave
View PDF
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Compartmental hemiglossectomy for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma creates composite tongue/floor defects in which balancing mobility, bulk, and a supple lining is challenging. We report three consecutive reconstructions using a medial sural artery perforator (MSAP) flap, emphasizing preservation of the uninvolved tongue tip left intentionally unattached to maximize residual mobility. A 28-year-old woman, a 50-year-old man, and a 36-year-old woman with lateral tongue SCC underwent compartmental resection with selective neck dissection; defects measured similar to 4 x 3, 5 x 4, and 6 x 5 cm. Thin fasciocutaneous MSAP flaps (5 x 4, 6 x 5, and 7 x 6 cm) were harvested from the medial calf and inset intraorally after tumor ablation, with end-to-end microvascular anastomoses to cervical recipient vessels (typically the lingual or superior thyroid artery and the external or internal jugular vein). All flaps survived without surgical complications; donor sites were closed primarily. Oral feeding resumed on postoperative day 13, 18, and 12, respectively; speech was comprehensible in all cases after standard rehabilitation. Follow-up occurred 6 months after completion of adjuvant radiotherapy (case 1), during adjuvant radiotherapy (case 2), and 3 months after completion (case 3) with all patients tolerating a full oral diet of any consistency and calf scars were linear and inconspicuous with no lower-limb deficits. These findings suggest that, for medium-sized lateral tongue/floor defects, the MSAP provides a favorable balance of pliability and volume with low donor-site morbidity; when oncologically feasible, preserving and not suturing the native tongue tip may further enhance mobility and functional recovery.
Keywords:
functional outcomes
medial sural artery perforator flap
oral cavity cancer
tongue reconstruction
tongue tip preservation
AI Summary

AI Summary

Key information extracted from the uploaded paper, including a brief overview, abstract, background, key highlights, visual analysis, and future outlook.

Journal

M
MICROSURGERY
IF:
1.7
Papers:
93
Citations:
0

Organization

U
Universita di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Scholars:
499
Papers: 209
Citations: 0
U
universita di modena e reggio emilia hospital
Scholars:
2.3K
Papers: 1.6K
Citations: 1
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers