Application Of Pectoralis Major Myocutaneous Flap In Tougue Reconstruction

Objective:The purpose of this study was to explore clinical efficacy of the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap in tongue reconstruction immediately in the short-term and long-term.Methods:Forty-one (17 females and 24 males; aged from43 to 75 years, mean age: 53.4 years) with middle-late line tongue cancer were collected and all received immediate pedicle pectoralis major myocutaneous flap transfer to repair tongue and jaw neck joint radical tongue body soft tissue defects. The data obtained by the medical records, the followed up by telephone etc. were analyzed and summarized. Patient were evevaluated by unified score system and therapeutic effect evaluation standard after postoperative 3 months and 3 year respectively. Using SAS9.13 software, compare the effect of postoperative 3 months to that of 1 year postoperatively by t test score. P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:In the forty-one cases, no flap was badly dead. The flap survival rate was 100%.Postoperative complication rate 17.07%.Compare the effect of postoperative 3 months to that of 1 year postoperatively,there was not statistically significant.1-year follow-up, four patients had mild dysphagia, however, the remaining acquired better life with passable tongue body shape, swallowing function, no obvious eating disorder and pectoralis major dysfunction.Conclusions:Pectoralis major myocutaneous flap can meet the radical tongue reconstruction with the physiological characteristics of anatomical structure invariably, blood supply reliably, easy to master, and the shape and function of the reconstructed tongue body is good. Most patients with advanced tongue cancer be cured, and and get a better quality of life.Both short-term efficacy and long-term effects are very good.Today free flaps may be more common, but the pectoralis major muscle flap is still command an important place in the reconstructive surgeon’s armamentarium.