Bilateral Radial Forearm free Flaps for Oral-Cavity Reconstruction

ABSTRACT

Simultaneous primary tumors (tumors found at the same time or within 1 month of each other) are not uncommon in head and neck cancer. Most frequently, one lesion is small relative to the other; however, this is not always the case. When two anatomically separate simultaneous primary tumors are large, a challenge for the reconstructive surgeon exists. The authors present a case of simultaneous primary tumors arising along the left and right mandibular gingiva. Following extirpation of the tumors, the defects were reconstructed with bilateral free radial forearm flaps. They conclude that this procedure is an excellent option for reconstruction of anatomically separate simultaneous defects of the head and neck region. This reconstruction provides an excellent tissue match for the intraoral region, and can be accomplished with minimal morbidity in a relatively short operative time.