Use of the infra hyoid musculo-cutaneous flap in soft palate reconstruction.

Objective: To review a series of 23 consecutive patients with squamous cell carcinomas arising from oropharynx who underwent infra hyoid musculo-cutaneous flap reconstruction including soft palate in alternative to free radial forearm flap or maxillofacial prosthesis. Post operative radiotherapy was performed for all patients.

Results: Every reconstruction healed quickly without major wound complications. The functional results evaluated by speech and swallowing capacities, were good for 17 patients, fair for 4 patients and bad for 2.

Conclusions: The infra hyoid musculo-cutaneous flap is a versatile, reliable and convenient flap suitable for repairing small and medium sized defects; it can be used in combination with other flaps, and in selected cases obviates the need for a microvascular free radial forearm flap or maxillofacial prosthesis.