# Assessing the Efficacy and Reliability of Pedicled Myocutaneous Single-Staged Flaps in Oral Cancer Ablation Surgery: A Prospective Interventional Study

## TL;DR

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a specific surgical technique for reconstructing oral cancer defects, finding it reliable and cost-effective.

## Contribution

The study provides evidence supporting the use of single-staged pedicled myocutaneous flaps in oral cancer reconstruction despite advances in microvascular surgery.

## Key findings

- Single-staged PMF showed no dehiscence, fistula formation, severe pain, or infection in 19 patients.
- Patients reported high satisfaction with a mean VAS score of 8.2.
- PMF is a viable option due to ease of harvest, reliability, and cost-effectiveness in developing countries.

## Abstract

Background

Reconstructive ladder following cancer ablation surgery varies from the simplest of split skin grafts to the most complex vascularized free tissue transfer flaps.

Objectives

The study objective is to assess the efficacy and reliability of single-staged pedicled myocutaneous flaps (PMF) for small- and medium-sized cancer defect reconstruction, as well as to evaluate the indications of single-stage PMF in the current free flap era.

Materials and methods

This was a prospective interventional study that was conducted over a period of nine months. All patients who had undergone cancer ablative surgery resulting in a small- or medium-sized defect during the study period are included. Reconstruction was performed by a single-stage PMF. Postoperatively, periodic recipient and donor site assessments were done at an appropriate time interval.

Results

During the study period, 21 patients were reported for cancer ablation surgery. Of these, 19 patients underwent PMF reconstruction. The peak incidence of tumors was noted in patients having an age range of 51-64 years. The chi-square test was used to compare the categorical variables. Friedman test was used to compare the visual analog scale (VAS) mean score between the time intervals. The statistical significance was kept at a p-value less than or equal to 0.05. Out of 19 patients who were operated on, no patient had dehiscence or fistula formation. No patients reported severe pain or infection in the donor site. There was no statistically significant association between necrosis at any post-operative interval. The mean patient satisfaction score measured using the VAS was 8.2.

Conclusion

In the current era, microvascular free tissue transfer remains the top reconstruction option. Still, our study retracted that a single-stage PMF remains a viable reconstructive option owing to its easy harvest, versatility, reliability, fewer postoperative complications, short operating time, and mainly cost factor in developing countries due to patients' financial constraints.