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Adipofascial anterolateral thigh free flap in head and neck reconstruction: a case series

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2024

Joshua M Sorrentino Open the ORCID record for Joshua M Sorrentino [Opens in a new window] ,
Ayham Al Afif ,
William J Magner ,
S Lynn Sigurdson ,
Jason M Davies ,
Robert A Fenstermaker ,
Moleca Ghannam  and
Ryan P McSpadden
Joshua M Sorrentino*
Affiliation:
Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery Department, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Buffalo, New York, USA
Ayham Al Afif
Affiliation:
Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery Department, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Buffalo, New York, USA
William J Magner
Affiliation:
Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery Department, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Buffalo, New York, USA
S Lynn Sigurdson
Affiliation:
Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery Department, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Buffalo, New York, USA
Jason M Davies
Affiliation:
Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery Department, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Buffalo, New York, USA
Robert A Fenstermaker
Affiliation:
Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery Department, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Buffalo, New York, USA
Moleca Ghannam
Affiliation:
Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery Department, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Buffalo, New York, USA
Ryan P McSpadden
Affiliation:
Head and Neck Reconstructive Surgery Department, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Buffalo, New York, USA
*
Corresponding author: Joshua M Sorrentino; Email: jmsorren@buffalo.edu;
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Abstract

Background

The adipofascial anterolateral thigh (AF-ALT) free flap represents a versatile technique in head and neck reconstructions, with its applications increasingly broadening. The objective was to detail the novel utilization of the AF-ALT flap in orbital and skull base reconstruction, along with salvage laryngectomy onlay in our case series.

Method

We conducted a retrospective analysis at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, spanning from July 2019 to June 2023, focusing on patient demographics and reconstructive parameters data.

Results

The AF-ALT flap was successfully employed in eight patients (average age 59, body mass index [BMI] 32.0) to repair various defects. Noteworthy outcomes were observed in skull base reconstructions, with no flap failures or major complications over an average 12-month follow-up. Donor sites typically healed well with minimal interventions.

Conclusion

Our series is the first to report the AF-ALT flap's efficacy in anterior skull base and orbital reconstructions, demonstrating an additional innovation in complex head and neck surgeries.

Keywords

cancerhead and neck surgerynaso-pharynxskull base reconstruction
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , First View , pp. 1 - 5
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

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Footnotes

Joshua M Sorrentino takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

References

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