Defatting Vestibuloplasty for Functional and Esthetic Reconstruction of Tongue

• Published in: Maxillofacial plastic and reconstructive surgery Vol. 36; no. 6; pp. 298 - 302
• Main Authors: Park, Si-Yeok, Kim, Min-Keun, Kim, Seong-Gon, Kwon, Kwang-Jun, Byun, Jin-Soo, Park, Chan-Jin, Park, Young-Wook
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Maxillofac Plast Reconstr Surg 01.11.2014; 대한악안면성형재건외과학회
• Subjects: Case Report; 치의학; Defatting vestibuloplasty; Radial forearm free flap; Transition of skin flap
• ISSN: 2288-8101; 2288-8586
• DOI: 10.14402/jkamprs.2014.36.6.298

The radial forearm free flap (RFFF) is a thin and pliable tissue with many advantages for tongue reconstruction. However, tongues reconstructed with RFFF occasionally need revision surgery because inadequate defect measurement at primary surgery can lead to bulkiness and limited movement of reconstructed tongue. In this case, the patient underwent partial glossectomy and RFFF reconstruction for treatment of tongue cancer five years prior. We could not make a lower denture for the patient, because the alveolo-lingual sulcus of tongue was almost lost. So we performed vestibuloplasty with a modified Kazanjian method on the lingual vestibule of the mandibular right posterior area, and defatting surgery to debulk the flap. After surgery, we observed that the color and texture of the revised tongue changed to become similar with adjacent tissue. The patient obtained a more functional and esthetic outcome. Accordingly, we present a case report with a review of relevant literature.