Reconstruction of intraoral defects using facial artery musculomucosal flap.

The facial artery musculomucosal flap, technically a combination of the nasolabial flap and the buccal mucosal flap, has been a reliable, versatile flap, either superiorly or inferiorly based for reconstruction of a wide variety of postcancer excision intraoral mucosal defects including defects of the palate, alveolus, lips and floor of mouth. We have used it 17 times in 16 patients with no failures and one flap with terminal necrosis. Almost all flaps developed venous congestion which settled on its own by conservative management.

Total oral reconstruction for cancers associated with advanced oral submucous fibrosis.

The progression of submucous fibrosis to oral cancer is well established. This condition in an advanced stage causes progressive trismus. Oral cancers associated with severe submucous fibrosis (interincisor distance [IID] < or = 1.