Island Nasolabial Flap for Tongue Reconstruction: Locoregional Flap of Choice and an Alternative to Free Flap for Tongue Cancer

Reconstruction following excision for tongue cancer carries important functional consequences. Island nasolabial flap (NLF) is robust and oncologically safe and has a good functional outcome, identical to free flap reconstruction. We retrospectively analyzed the data of 11 tongue cancer patients operated between January 2019 and August 2019. Surgical resection and neck dissection followed by immediate reconstruction by island NLF were done. Post-operative functional outcome assessed using the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire. Age of patients ranged between 39 and 70 years. All patients had either T2 or T3 tongue cancer. No incidence of flap necrosis noted in any patient. On an average, all were discharged between 3rd and 5th post-operative days. Cosmetic and functional outcomes were satisfactory in all patients. Island nasolabial has an excellent reach and can reach any part of the oral cavity, even to the contralateral side and base of the tongue. It has an excellent post-operative tongue function, almost equivalent to free flap. Hence, it should be considered locoregional flap of choice for tongue reconstruction.