Publication:

Utility of island bipaddle pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in reconstruction of full thickness lower gingivo-buccal sulcus defects

Background Aims of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of island bipaddle pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in the reconstruction of through and through lateral gingivobuccal sulcus defects.

Methods This was a retrospective study carried out from 2013 - 2019 in the department of otorhinolaryngology and head and surgery at Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College and Hospital. After obtaining institutional ethical committee clearance. Sixty-one patients diagnosed with stage IV a lateral Gingivobuccal squamous cell carcinoma with skin involvement and reconstructed using island bipaddle pectoralis major myocutaneous flap were included in the study.

Results Majority of our patients were females. Nearly 50% of our patients had skin involvement secondary to Level-I nodal metastasis. Nine patients in our study developed complications. Among them seven patients had minor complications and in two patients the flap failed.

Conclusions In resource constraint places where microvascular reconstruction facilities are not available and where replacing bone is not mandatory, island bipaddle pectoralis major myocutaneous flap can be used effectively as single stage reconstruction option for full thickness lower gingivo-buccal sulcus defects.