Molly Naunheim1, Rahul Seth1, P Daniel Knott2. 1. Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA. 2. Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA. Electronic address: pdknott@ohns.ucsf.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To demonstrate the potential of the anterolateral thigh free flap for neck contour restoration. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review at a tertiary care medical center of patients who underwent radical parotidectomy with sternocleidomastoid sacrifice, with or without temporal bone resection, and reconstruction of both facial and cervical contour with the anterolateral thigh free flap between November 2011 and March 2015. Seven patients were included and demographics, flap viability, pathology and tumor staging, surgical intervention, adjunctive reanimation procedures, ischemia time, and pre-operative and post-operative photos were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: There were no flap failures and the mean ischemia time was 82 minutes. There were 2 recipient site complications. Post-operative neck symmetry was improved for all 7 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The adipofascial anterolateral thigh flap is useful for improving the aesthetic contour of the neck among patients undergoing sternocleidomastoid muscle resection/disinsertion following total parotidectomy with/without temporal bone resection. Contour restoration may be performed with minimal added morbidity and with relatively little additional operative time. This technique may be adapted for other complex facial and neck defects caused by ablative surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.
PURPOSE: To demonstrate the potential of the anterolateral thigh free flap for neck contour restoration. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review at a tertiary care medical center of patients who underwent radical parotidectomy with sternocleidomastoid sacrifice, with or without temporal bone resection, and reconstruction of both facial and cervical contour with the anterolateral thigh free flap between November 2011 and March 2015. Seven patients were included and demographics, flap viability, pathology and tumor staging, surgical intervention, adjunctive reanimation procedures, ischemia time, and pre-operative and post-operative photos were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: There were no flap failures and the mean ischemia time was 82 minutes. There were 2 recipient site complications. Post-operative neck symmetry was improved for all 7 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The adipofascial anterolateral thigh flap is useful for improving the aesthetic contour of the neck among patients undergoing sternocleidomastoid muscle resection/disinsertion following total parotidectomy with/without temporal bone resection. Contour restoration may be performed with minimal added morbidity and with relatively little additional operative time. This technique may be adapted for other complex facial and neck defects caused by ablative surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.
Authors: Abel P David; Aaron L Zebolsky; Andrea M Park; Chase M Heaton; P Daniel Knott; Rahul Seth Journal: Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol Date: 2022-03-05