Reconstruction in head and neck cancer: a place for conservatism.

With the advent of microvascular free flaps and complex musculocutaneous flaps in head and neck reconstruction, simpler methods are often forgotten. Since complication rates have been high with more complex intraoral reconstructions, experience in 112 patients who were reconstructed using conservative methods whenever possible was reviewed. Complications were found to be minimal after simple reconstruction in less massive resections, and reconstructive results were satisfactory. More complex methods of reconstruction may well be reserved for those situations in which they are required for better results with respect to speech and swallowing.