Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, functional and aesthetic outcome of rhomboid
cheek flap for wound closure after excision of mouth angle carcinoma.
Patients & methods.The study included 23patients; 13 had basal cell carcinoma and 10
patients had squameous cell carcinoma with a mean diameter of lesions of2.6l (1.2-4.5) cm
in its greatest diameter. Nodal involvement was detected in 10 specimens. Surgical resection
was performed with safety margin; a rhomboid flap was fashioned and adjusted to construct a
new angle of the mouth. Prior to flap fixation the mucosal lining was evaluated for being directly
approximated or a mucosal flap was fashioned; for extensive excisions a tongue flap was
fashioned and used for mucosal defect closure. Wound edges were approximated with tension
free suturing and wound was drained. After complete wound healing, all patients underwent
functional and aesthetic evaluation.
Results: All patients had primary surgical excision and immediate repair without intraoperative
problems or complication with a mean operative time 154.719.7 min and mean operative blood
less 311.551.8 cc. Closure of the resultant cheek mucosal defect was feasible by direct closure
in 14 cases, 5 cases required mucosal rotational flap and direct closure of donor area, while
4 cases required tongue flap. Six patients had postoperative surgery-related morbidities, a rate
of 26.1%. Mean postoperative satisfaction score was 10.97t2.2; range: 6-14; 6patients had
score of<10, 10 patients had score ranging between 10 and 12 and 7 patients had score of
more than 12.
f Conclusion: Ipsilateral rhomboid shaped cheek flap is an appropriate surgical modality for
/ reconstruction of the angle of the mouth after resection for carcinoma and provides acceptable
/ functional and aesthetic outcome. |
