OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze our experience with donor site morbidity after harvesting a buccinator myomucosal island flap (BUMIF) for reconstructing surgical defects involving the tongue and floor of the mouth after oncological resections in 15 consecutive patients. STUDY DESIGN: Donor site morbidity was evaluated using 5 parameters: mouth opening, oral commissure symmetry, inner vestibule restoration, cheek mucosal lining, and the esthetic result. The clinical evaluation was performed by a blinded panel of 2 clinicians and the patient him- or herself, assessing each parameter with a score ranging from 0 to 3. The 3 scores for each parameter were summed to obtain a score reflecting the overall parameter assessment. RESULTS: The mean mouth opening score was 8.6 out of a maximum of 9 (range, 6-9). The mean commissure symmetry was 8.6 (range, 7-9), the mean inferior vestibule score was 8 (range, 6-9), the mean cheek lining score was 8.2 (range, 7-9), and the mean final esthetic score was 8.5 (range, 6-9). CONCLUSION: The results of this retrospective evaluation demonstrate that when special care is taken in the management of the BUMIF donor site, its morbidity is extremely low, allowing optimal functional and cosmetic results and confirming the major role of this flap in reconstructing moderate-size defects following tongue and floor of the mouth resections.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze our experience with donor site morbidity after harvesting a buccinator myomucosal island flap (BUMIF) for reconstructing surgical defects involving the tongue and floor of the mouth after oncological resections in 15 consecutive patients. STUDY DESIGN:Donor site morbidity was evaluated using 5 parameters: mouth opening, oral commissure symmetry, inner vestibule restoration, cheek mucosal lining, and the esthetic result. The clinical evaluation was performed by a blinded panel of 2 clinicians and the patient him- or herself, assessing each parameter with a score ranging from 0 to 3. The 3 scores for each parameter were summed to obtain a score reflecting the overall parameter assessment. RESULTS: The mean mouth opening score was 8.6 out of a maximum of 9 (range, 6-9). The mean commissure symmetry was 8.6 (range, 7-9), the mean inferior vestibule score was 8 (range, 6-9), the mean cheek lining score was 8.2 (range, 7-9), and the mean final esthetic score was 8.5 (range, 6-9). CONCLUSION: The results of this retrospective evaluation demonstrate that when special care is taken in the management of the BUMIFdonor site, its morbidity is extremely low, allowing optimal functional and cosmetic results and confirming the major role of this flap in reconstructing moderate-size defects following tongue and floor of the mouth resections.