Reconstruction of intraoral defects with the free groin flap.

A free flap has been defined as an island flap that has been completely detached from the body and transferred to a distant recipient site, where microvascular anastomoses are done to reestablish its essential intravascular circulation. The groin flap, based on its superficial circumflex iliac artery and venae comitantes, was utilized as a free flap to close large intraoral defects in six patients following ablative cancer operations. All patients received preoperative or postoperative irradiation therapy. Four of the six free groin flap operations were clinically successful. One flap became necrotic unexpectedly after 3 1/2 weeks. Infection played a major part in necrosis of the other flap. The use of the free flap in oral cavity reconstruction offers certain advantages over regional vascular flaps but definite limitations exist.