Vertical platysma myocutaneous flap reconstruction for T2-staged oral carcinoma.

The surgical resection of tumour-affected oral soft tissue structures often leads to tissue defects. Various techniques can be used for reconstruction. Our experience of using a vertical platysma myocutaneous flap in a group of patients who underwent reconstruction after T2-staged oral cancer surgical resection associated with neck dissection is described. Only one patient required a surgical revision, due to flap detachment, with a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap. No other major complications, such as nerve lesions or orocutaneous fistulas, were observed. Satisfactory swallowing function was achieved within two weeks in all cases. A platysma myocutaneous flap is a versatile, easy-to-perform, one-stage procedure, and the outcome is best in adequately selected patients; it should not be adopted in patients who have undergone previous neck surgery or radiotherapy, or if radical neck dissection is planned. Care is required to preserve the external jugular vein and the submental artery, particularly when level I is dissected.