Soft Tissue Reconstruction After Hemimandibulectomy in Oral Malignancies: A Retrospective Study

Aims The present study was under taken to evaluate the efficacy of various local and regional soft tissue flaps used for reconstruction after excision of various malignant lesions of the mouth and also to evaluate complications with length of hospital stay after the reconstruction. Materials and Methods The study was a record based retrospective analysis of 127 patients who were histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity for which excision of the lesion along with segmental mandibulectomy and primary reconstruction with local or regional flaps was the treatment modality. Results The male: female mean age is 48.27: 48.79. The Z-proportionality test for intra oral reconstruction showed 5% level of significance (P < 0.05) between pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (PMMC) and other flaps. Difference between deltopectoral ( DP) and PMMC, PMMC and primary closure at 1% level of significance, i.e. P < 0.01 was found for extra oral defects. The mean stay was found to be 31.31 days. Recurrence rate of 11% was reported. Conclusion A total of 127 patients formed the study group. In the absence of bone reconstruction PMMC still continues to be the ''work horse'' of reconstruction following wide excision and hemimandibulectomy.