Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, functional and aesthetic outcome of rhomboid cheek flap for wound closure after excision of mouth angle carcinoma.
Patients & Methods: The study included 23 patients; 13 had basal cell carcinoma and 10 patients had squameous cell carcinoma with a mean diameter of lesions of 2.6±1 (1.2-4.5) cm in its greatest diameter. Nodal involvement was detected in 10 specimens. Surgical resection was performed with safety margin; a rhomboid flap was fashioned and adjusted to construct a new angle of the mouth. Prior to flap fixation the mucosal lining was evaluated for being directly approximated or a mucosal flap was fashioned; for extensive excisions a tongue flap was fashioned and used for mucosal defect closure. Wound edges were approximated with tension free suturing and wound was drained. After complete wound healing, all patients underwent functional and aesthetic evaluation.
Results: All patients had primary surgical excision and immediate repair without intraoperative problems or complication with a mean operative time was 154.7±19.7 min and mean operative blood loss was 311.5±51.8 cc. Closure of the resultant cheek mucosal defect was feasible by direct closure in 14 cases, 5 cases required mucosal rotational flap and direct closure of donor area, while 4 cases required tongue flap. Six patients had postoperative surgery-related morbidities for a rate of 26.1%. Mean postoperative satisfaction score was 10.9±2.2; range: 6-14; 6 patients had score of