Radial forearm flap in oral reconstruction

A radial forearm flap was utilized for oral cavity reconstruction following surgical ablation of squamous cell carcinoma. Out of 16 patients treated between 1992-1996 then were 2 perioperative deaths; three subjects died for tumour recurrence. The other 11 cases are alive with a median survival of 24 months. A review of these cases pointed out a direct relation between surgical morbidity and systemic disease (diabetes, hypertension) and between tumour recurrence rate and degree of primary carcinoma. For this reason we are planning to treat these neoplasms with preoperative chemotherapy, added to complementary radiotherapy that was performed in 14 patients.