Introduction: Oral carcinoma can cause significant defects that would necessitate a challenging reconstructive surgery. These techniques include biological or synthetic dressings, grafts, regional flaps, and free-vascularized flaps. Among these, the dural graft has demonstrated promising results in repairing the skull-base defects. Our aim is to report a new, innovative technique for partial glossectomy and floor of mouth defect repair using a biological dural graft dressing when primary repair was not feasible and the patient did not consent to dermal graft or flap interventions.
Presentation of case: This article reports the outcomes from a novel intervention of partial glossectomy repair using a biological dural dressing derived from bovine type-I collagen in a 57-year-old female patient with recurrent T1N1M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the left-sided tongue during the 12 month period of follow-up.
Discussion: The best option for large tongue defects is a free flap, while for a moderate defect is a regional oral flap. The biological graft, as an acellular dermal graft has been well known to facilitate secondary healing in the tongue as an alternative to the split-thickness skin graft. In the current study, the dural dressing in tongue reconstruction was likewise shown to be an effective biological dressing; hence, the collagen membrane is biologically acceptable to the oral mucosa and an excellent wound graft material. However, it is absolutely contraindicated in bovine hypersensitive patients.
Conclusion: The biological dural graft dressing appears to be an effective method for tongue reconstruction, as it promotes adequate wound healing and it preserves function.
Keywords: Biological dural graft dressing; Partial glossectomy.
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