Colgajo libre; Free flap; Gracilis; Head & neck reconstruction; Reconstrucción de cabeza y cuello; Humans; Neck; Facial Paralysis/surgery; Free Tissue Flaps; Head and Neck Neoplasms/complications; Head and Neck Neoplasms/surgery; Plastic Surgery Procedures; General Mathematics
Abstract :
[en] [en] INTRODUCTION: The gracilis muscle free flap has gained popularity in head and neck reconstruction due to minimal donor-site morbidity, reliable vascular pedicle, strong muscular component, and possibility to perform nerve coaptation. However, almost all the existing evidence in the literature is related to its use for facial palsy reanimation. The aim of this study was therefore to review and provide a comprehensive summary of all the possible indications and outcomes of this versatile free flap in head neck reconstructive surgery.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was conducted including articles from 1970 to 2019. All articles were examined and described.
RESULTS: Twenty-seven papers published between 1994 and 2019 were identified for analysis. The evidence highlights the use of the gracilis muscle free flap for parotid, forehead and midface defects, oral tongue, oral sphincter, lower and upper lip, cheek, and oral commissure defects, among others, as the most common defects reconstructed.
CONCLUSION: This flap represents an easy to harvest and versatile free flap with low donor-site morbidity and multiple proven uses in head & neck reconstruction. We therefore encourage reconstructive surgeons to include this flap in their armoury, either as a first or as a second-line option.
Disciplines :
Otolaryngology
Author, co-author :
Chiesa-Estomba, Carlos Miguel; Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Donostia, San Sebastian, Guipuzkoa - Basque Country, Spain, Head & Neck Study Group of Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-rhino-laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS), France. Electronic address: chiesaestomba86@gmail.com
González-García, José Ángel; Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Donostia, San Sebastian, Guipuzkoa - Basque Country, Spain
Piazza, Cesare; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Maxillofacial and Thyroid Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS, National Cancer Institute of Milan, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Mayo-Yanez, Miguel; Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Department, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), 15006 A Coruña, Galicia, Spain, Head & Neck Study Group of Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-rhino-laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS), France
Grammatica, Alberto; Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
Lechien, Jérome ; Université de Mons - UMONS > Faculté de Psychologie et des Sciences de l'Education > Service de Métrologie et Sciences du langage
Din, Taseer F; Division of Otolaryngology, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
Karkos, Petros; Department of Otolaryngology - Head Neck Surgery, Ahepa University Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
García-Iza, Leire; Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Department, Hospital Universitario Donostia, San Sebastian, Guipuzkoa - Basque Country, Spain
Ayad, Tareck; Division of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada, Head & Neck Study Group of Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-rhino-laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS), France
Language :
English
Title :
Gracilis free flap in head and neck reconstruction beyond facial palsy reanimation.
