BACKGROUND: Head and neck oncologists are often confronted with the difficult challenge of balancing cancer cure with the preservation of function when deciding the patient's best treatment protocol. This task is especially difficult in cancer of the base of tongue. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the beavertail modification of the radial forearm-free flap in base of tongue reconstruction. METHODS: Thirty-one consecutive patients treated for base of tongue cancer with primary surgery were followed prospectively. The technique of the beavertail modification is described. Swallowing and speech function were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: All the flaps survived. Thirty (97%) patients started consuming oral diet within 1 year, and all had normal speech intelligibility. CONCLUSIONS: The beavertail modification of the radial forearm arm flap seems to provide the reconstructive elements that allow patients with large base of tongue extirpations to develop functional swallowing and speech production postoperatively.
BACKGROUND: Head and neck oncologists are often confronted with the difficult challenge of balancing cancer cure with the preservation of function when deciding the patient's best treatment protocol. This task is especially difficult in cancer of the base of tongue. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe the beavertail modification of the radial forearm-free flap in base of tongue reconstruction. METHODS: Thirty-one consecutive patients treated for base of tongue cancer with primary surgery were followed prospectively. The technique of the beavertail modification is described. Swallowing and speech function were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively. RESULTS: All the flaps survived. Thirty (97%) patients started consuming oral diet within 1 year, and all had normal speech intelligibility. CONCLUSIONS: The beavertail modification of the radial forearm arm flap seems to provide the reconstructive elements that allow patients with large base of tongue extirpations to develop functional swallowing and speech production postoperatively.
Authors: Justin M Pyne; Peter T Dziegielewski; Gabriela Constantinescu; Agnieszka Dzioba; Daniel A O'Connell; David W J Côté; Khalid Ansari; Jeffrey Harris; Dustin Conrad; Fawaz M Makki; Matthew Hearn; Vincent L Biron; Hadi Seikaly Journal: Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol Date: 2020-08-14
Authors: Vincent L Biron; Daniel A O'Connell; Brittany Barber; Jessica M Clark; Colin Andrews; Caroline C Jeffery; David W J Côté; Jeffrey Harris; Hadi Seikaly Journal: J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Date: 2017-03-14
Authors: Hani Z Marzouki; Vincent L Biron; Peter T Dziegielewski; Andrew Ma; Jason Vaz; Gabriela Constantinescu; Jeffrey Harris; Daniel O'Connell; Hadi Seikaly Journal: J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Date: 2018-09-19
Authors: Sherif Idris; Alex M Mlynarek; Khalid Ansari; Jeffrey R Harris; Nabil Rizk; David Cote; Daniel A O'Connell; Heather Allen; Peter Dziegielewski; Hadi Seikaly Journal: J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg Date: 2018-04-24