Reconstruction Principles in Head and Neck

Reconstruction Principles in Head and Neck

Reconstruction Principles in Head and Neck

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Recon Goals & Basics - Setting the Stage

  • Primary Aims:
    • Restore function: speech, swallowing, airway patency.
    • Achieve aesthetic form and symmetry.
    • Ensure durable coverage; prevent complications (fistula, infection).
  • Fundamental Principles:
    • Replace "like with like" tissue.
    • Prioritize robust vascular supply for flaps.
    • Tension-free wound closure is critical.
    • Minimize donor site morbidity. Reconstructive Ladder in Head and Neck Surgery

⭐ The reconstructive ladder (from direct closure to free tissue transfer) dictates the simplest effective solution.

Recon Ladder - Climbing Choices

  • Principle: Simplest effective method first.
  • 1. Secondary Intention: Small, superficial defects.
  • 2. Primary Closure: Minimal tension.
  • 3. Skin Grafts:
    • STSG: Large areas.
    • FTSG: Better cosmesis, smaller areas.
  • 4. Local Flaps: Adjacent tissue (random/axial).
  • 5. Regional Flaps: Pedicled (e.g., PMMC, Deltopectoral).
  • 6. Free Flaps: Microvascular; for complex defects (e.g., RFFF, Fibula).

⭐ Free flaps offer superior vascularized tissue for complex 3D defects, vital for function and aesthetics. 📌 Mnemonic: "See Primary Grafts Locally, Regionally, Freely."

Skin Grafts - Patchwork Perfection

  • Autologous transfer of epidermis & a variable amount of dermis, completely detached from donor site blood supply before transfer.
  • Types:
    • Split-Thickness Skin Graft (STSG):
      • Epidermis + portion of dermis.
      • Donor sites: Thigh, buttock, scalp. Harvested with dermatome (e.g., 0.010-0.018 inches).
      • Pros: Better take, can cover large areas. Cons: ↑contraction, ↓cosmesis, fragile.
    • Full-Thickness Skin Graft (FTSG):
      • Epidermis + entire dermis.
      • Donor sites: Postauricular, supraclavicular, preauricular, upper eyelid.
      • Pros: ↓contraction, better cosmesis & durability. Cons: Limited size, needs well-vascularized bed.
  • Graft take phases: 1. Plasmatic imbibition (0-48 hrs) 2. Inosculation (2-5 days) 3. Revascularization (>5 days).
  • 📌 Causes of graft failure (HIS BED): Hematoma, Infection, Seroma, Bad recipient Bed (poor vascularity), Excessive tension, Dependent position (shear). STSG vs FTSG Skin Graft Levels and Thicknesses

⭐ Meshing an STSG (e.g., ratios 1:1.5 up to 1:9) significantly increases its surface area coverage and allows for drainage of fluid from beneath the graft, improving take on contaminated or exudative wounds.

Flap Fundamentals - Vascular Victories

Flap: Tissue unit transferred with its intrinsic blood supply; maintains viability.

  • Vascular Patterns:
    • Random: Dermal-subdermal plexus.
    • Axial: Specific arterio-venous system (e.g., Pectoralis Major Myocutaneous - PMMC).
  • Classification by Movement:
    • Local: Advancement, rotation, transposition.
    • Regional: Pedicled from nearby territory.
    • Distant (Free Flaps): Require microvascular anastomosis.
  • Key Principle: Tension-free closure, adequate perfusion.
  • 📌 Adequate Blood Supply Crucial (ABSC).

⭐ Most common free flap failure: Venous thrombosis (early post-op, <72 hrs).

Random vs Axial Pattern Flapsoka

Workhorse Flaps - H&N Hit Parade

Key flaps for H&N reconstruction:

  • PMMC (Pectoralis Major Myocutaneous):
    • Pedicled; thoracoacromial a.
    • Bulky, reliable. Oral cavity, pharynx.
  • DP (Deltopectoral) Flap:
    • Pedicled; internal mammary a. perforators.
    • Thinner. Skin defects, fistula repair.
  • LD (Latissimus Dorsi) Flap:
    • Pedicled/free; thoracodorsal a.
    • Large, versatile. Scalp, major defects.
  • RFFF (Radial Forearm Free Flap):
    • Free; radial a.
    • Thin, pliable, sensate option. Oral lining.
  • ALT (Anterolateral Thigh) Flap:
    • Free; lateral circumflex femoral a. (descending br.)
    • Versatile (skin/fascia/muscle). Large defects.
  • FFF (Fibula Free Flap):
    • Free; peroneal a.
    • Osseocutaneous. Mandible reconstruction.

    ⭐ The Fibula Free Flap is preferred for mandible reconstruction due to its long bone stock (up to 25 cm), consistent anatomy, and ability to support dental implants. ALT flap harvest and head and neck reconstructionoka

  • The Reconstructive Ladder (or Elevator) guides choices from direct closure to free flaps.
  • "Like with like" principle is key for optimal tissue replacement and function.
  • Vascular pedicle integrity is paramount for flap survival.
  • Key flaps: PMMC (workhorse), RFFF (oral lining), ALT (versatile), Fibula (mandible).
  • Aim for three-layer closure: internal lining, structural support, and external cover.
  • Prioritize functional outcomes (speech, deglutition) and aesthetics.
  • Immediate reconstruction is generally preferred for most major H&N defects.

Practice Questions: Reconstruction Principles in Head and Neck

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