%0 Journal Article
%T Reconstruction of the Head and Neck Region Using Lower Trapezius Musculocutaneous Flaps
%A Soo Kwang Yoon
%A Seung Han Song
%A Nakheon Kang
%A Yeo-Hoon Yoon
%J Archives of Plastic Surgery
%D 2012
%I The Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
%R http://dx.doi.org/10.5999/aps.2012.39.6.626
%X Background Recent literature has indicated that free flaps are currently considered thepreferred choice for head and neck reconstruction. However, head and neck cancer patients arefrequently treated with chemoradiotherapy, which is often associated with a poor general andlocal condition, and thus, such patients are ineligible for free flap reconstruction. Therefore,other reconstruction modalities should be considered.Methods We used lower trapezius musculocutaneous (LTMC) flap based on the dorsal scapularartery to reconstruct head and neck defects that arose from head and neck cancer in 8 patients.All of the patients had undergone preoperative chemoradiotherapy.Results There were no complications except one case of partial flap necrosis; it was treatedwith secondary intention. Healing in the remaining patients was uneventful without hematoma,seroma, or infection. The donor sites were closed primarily.Conclusions The LTMC flap is the preferred flap for a simple, reliable, large flap with a widearc of rotation and minor donor-site morbidity. The authors recommend this versatile islandflap as an alternative to microvascular free tissue transfer for the reconstruction of defects inthe head and neck region, for patients that have undergone preoperative chemoradiotherapy.
%K Head and neck neoplasms
%K Reconstructive surgical procedures
%K Chemoradiotherapy
%K Surgical flaps
%U http://www.e-aps.org/Synapse/Data/PDFData/2023APS/aps-39-626.pdf