Tongue base reconstruction with a small platysma myocutaneous flap

Pedicled platysma myocutaneous flaps are often used to reconstruct defects of the head and neck after ablative surgery. In this series, small pedicled platysma myocutaneous flaps were used to reconstruct defects of the base of the tongue. The elevated flap, in which the proximal portion of the skin was de-epithelialized, is passed under the suprahyoid muscles to the defect, and the donor site can be closed primarily without additional skin grafting. From 1992 through 1997, seven patients underwent platysma myocutaneous flap reconstruction after a partial resection of the tongue base. The size of the transferred flaps ranged from 3 x 3 cm to 5 x 7 cm. The flaps were successfully transferred in all of the patients. Postoperative deglutition and speech functions were acceptable in all of the patients. Because this method is simple, is associated with minimal morbidity, and allows primary closure of the donor site, we believe that it is the appropriate procedure for reconstruction of partial tongue-base defect.