OBJECTIVE: To compare the postoperative outcome among different types of platysma myocutaneous flaps by reviewing 54 cases. METHODS: From 1984 to 2004, 54 patients with oral cancer underwent immediate reconstruction of intraoral defects using the platysma myocutaneous flaps. In 54 cases, 12 cases were transversal platysma myocutaneous flaps and the other 42 cases were vertical platysma myocutaneous flaps. In these 42 cases, 26 cases preserved facial artery and vein yet 16 cases didn't preserve them. The survival condition of these flaps were compared. RESULTS: In the 12 cases of transversal platysma myocutaneous flaps, 10 cases survived totally and 2 cases had partial necrosis. In the 26 cases of vertical platysma myocutaneous flaps preserved facial artery and vein, 23 cases survived completely and 3 cases had partial necrosis. However, in the 16 cases of vertical platysma myocutaneous flaps in that facial artery and veins were not preserved, 10 cases survived completely, whereas 4 cases had partial necrosis and 2 cases had complete necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: The survival rates of platysma myocutaneous flaps that didn't preserve facial artery and vein were low. Its clinical use should be prudent.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the postoperative outcome among different types of platysma myocutaneous flaps by reviewing 54 cases. METHODS: From 1984 to 2004, 54 patients with oral cancer underwent immediate reconstruction of intraoral defects using the platysma myocutaneous flaps. In 54 cases, 12 cases were transversal platysma myocutaneous flaps and the other 42 cases were vertical platysma myocutaneous flaps. In these 42 cases, 26 cases preserved facial artery and vein yet 16 cases didn't preserve them. The survival condition of these flaps were compared. RESULTS: In the 12 cases of transversal platysma myocutaneous flaps, 10 cases survived totally and 2 cases had partial necrosis. In the 26 cases of vertical platysma myocutaneous flaps preserved facial artery and vein, 23 cases survived completely and 3 cases had partial necrosis. However, in the 16 cases of vertical platysma myocutaneous flaps in that facial artery and veins were not preserved, 10 cases survived completely, whereas 4 cases had partial necrosis and 2 cases had complete necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: The survival rates of platysma myocutaneous flaps that didn't preserve facial artery and vein were low. Its clinical use should be prudent.