Postoperative inpatient surgical complications following head and neck microvascular free tissue transfer.

BACKGROUND: Complications following head and neck microvascular free tissue transfer (MFTT) are common. Less is known about when they occur. METHOD: Retrospective study of patients with primary or recurrent head and neck cancer undergoing MFTT reconstruction at a tertiary care institution. MFTT reconstructions with inpatient postoperative complications were included. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare median postoperative day (POD) onset of complication by flap type. RESULTS: Of 1090 patients undergoing MFTT reconstruction, 126 (11.6%) patients experienced inpatient complications including fibula (n = 35), anterolateral thigh (n = 60), or radial forearm (n = 31) MFTTs. POD onset was shortest for surgical site hematoma (median = 1 [IQR 1-5]), and longest for donor site infection (median = 11.5 [IQR 8-15]). There was no significant difference between flap types and POD onset of complications (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hematoma formation and flap failure occur earliest during hospitalization, while dehiscence, infection, and fistula occur later. There is no difference in complication timing between flap types.

Smile Outcomes of an Externally Scarless, Intraoral Orthodromic Temporalis Tendon Transfer.

Background: Temporalis tendon transfer (TTT) often relies on external incisions in the nasolabial fold, temporal region, or both. Herein, we studied smile outcomes of a TTT technique via a single intraoral incision without external skin incisions. Objective: To measure the difference in static perioral positions before and after intraoral TTT. Methods: Five patients underwent an externally scarless TTT technique via an intraoral approach. Iris measurements were used to estimate pixel-to-millimeter conversion for facial analysis of vertical and horizontal oral commissure excursion vectors using the JAVA-based program Facegram version 1.0 (Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary). Results: After surgery, mean vertical height on the affected side significantly increased from 3.4 mm to a postoperative value of 20.6 mm, p = 0.016. There was no difference in horizontal smile excursion after surgery (35.7 mm vs. 32.2 mm, p = 0.37). Smile angle difference between affected and healthy smile (Δα) reduced from 27.0° preoperative to 3.5°, representing a decrease in facial asymmetry (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Intraoral, externally scarless TTT is an effective option for dynamic facial reanimation, obviating external incisions in select patients.

Advanced lip reconstruction: functional and aesthetic considerations.

The lips have both aesthetic and functional features that serve to provide recognizable individualized beauty, emotional cues, sensual interactions, speech abilities, and oral continence for nutrition. Lip distortion or loss occurring from trauma or neoplasms can have devastating cosmetic and form deficits with resultant psychological, physical, and nutritional detriments. Appropriate reconstruction of the lips requires a balance between form, function, and aesthetics. Conservation of tissue when feasible should be the overall goal followed by exhausting and maximizing on all adjacent local tissue advancements, rotations, and transposition options. Tissue preservation as the first line of lip reconstruction will achieve the highest success in maintaining sphincteric function along with balancing appearance. This goal should be maintained when dealing with simple lacerations with minimal tissue loss to extensive near or total lip defects. We hope to provide an algorithm and review of aesthetic considerations in lip reconstructive techniques for a wide range of lip defects. An anatomic review and historical background followed by aesthetic issues and pearls related to defect size-dependent lip reconstruction techniques will be presented. The emphasis will be on cosmetic issues that arise with lip reconstruction and how to incorporate a detailed preoperative assessment; minimize donor site morbidity; match tissue size, texture, and color; and maintain stomal competence to balance form, function, and beauty.