Simultaneous double free radial forearm flaps combined with coronoidectomy and myotomy to release bilateral severe trismus: A case report

Microsurgery. 2017 Oct;37(7):831-835. doi: 10.1002/micr.30221. Epub 2017 Sep 12.

Abstract

Oral cancers associated with submucosal fibrosis-induced trismus are common. They may affect the patients' quality of life, cause nutritional deficits, and interfere with postoperative cancer surveillance. In such cases, locating desirable recipient vessels in the head and neck can be difficult. This report presents a 47-year-old man with severe trismus caused by recurrent head and neck cancer, who had received multiple free-flap reconstructions after cancer ablation. Reconstruction was successfully achieved for the bilateral defects and releasing the trismus by using simultaneous double free radial forearm flaps as a chained flow-through pattern with one residual recipient vessel combined with the bilateral myotomy of the medial pterygoid and masseter muscles, and coronoidectomy. Both flaps survived without any postoperative complication. The maximal mouth opening measured by interincisal distance was 38 mm intraoperative and 32 mm during the 3-year follow-up period. This approach may be an effective option for releasing trismus when recipient vessels are lacking.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / complications
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / surgery*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Forearm / surgery
  • Graft Survival
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth Neoplasms / complications
  • Mouth Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mouth Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Myocutaneous Flap / blood supply
  • Myocutaneous Flap / transplantation*
  • Myotomy / methods
  • Oral Submucous Fibrosis / complications
  • Oral Submucous Fibrosis / pathology
  • Oral Submucous Fibrosis / surgery*
  • Oral Surgical Procedures / adverse effects*
  • Oral Surgical Procedures / methods
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Trismus / etiology
  • Trismus / physiopathology
  • Trismus / surgery*