Temporalis Myofascial Flap for Maxillofacial and Oral Defect

Abstract

Objective: Temporalis myofascial flap is a good option for the reconstruction of maxillofacial, oral cavity, and parotid defect. Method: A total of 28 patients with postoperative defects located in the lower two thirds of the face and oral cavity in Chiang Mai University Hospital were included in this study. Results: Sixteen patients had nasal cavity and maxillary sinus cancer, 6 patients had oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer, 3 patients had parotid cancer, 1 patient had cementifying fibroma, 1 patient had facial palsy, and 1 patient had osteoradionecrosis of the mandible. Temporalis muscle flap provided profuse well-vascularized tissue for the obliteration of orbital exenteration and totalor partial maxillectomy cavities and coverage of the surface of sinonasal and oropharyngeal defects. Conclusion: Oral and nasal spaces were separated successfully in all patients. Temporalis muscle flap is a very reliable technique with low complication rates and few donor site problems. This safe and technically simple flap can be preferred for the reconstruction of maxilla-facial defects after ablative tumor surgery, especially in older and debilitated patients.