COMPARISON OF ANTEROLATERAL THIGH FLAP, PECTORALIS MAJOR MYOCUTANEOUS FLAP AND FREE FOREARM FLAP IN THE SURGICAL REPAIR OF ORO-MAXILLOFACIAL DEFECTS

Objective: To investigate and compare the effectiveness of treatment with anterolateral thigh flap, pectoralis major myocutaneous flap and free forearm flap in the repair of oro-maxillofacial region soft tissue defects. Methods: Patients (117) with oro-maxillofacial region soft tissue defects treated with skin flap repair in oral and maxillofacial surgery of our hospital from September 2015 to August 2017 were selected for the study. Out of this number, 47 patients received anterolateral thigh flap repair, 40 patients received pectoralis major myocutaneous flap repair, and 30 patients underwent forearm flap repair. The post-operative repair effect, adverse reactions and satisfaction with the curative effect were assessed and compared in the three groups. Results: There was no significant difference in the number of different flap sources between groups (p > 0.05). The success scores of transplantation in the three groups (95.74%, 92.5%, and 90%, respectively) did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). The observed adverse reactions were infection, hematocele, effusion, and skin flap necrosis, with total incidence of 14.89%, 12.5%, 20%, and there was no significant difference between groups (p > 0.05). in addition, no significant differences were seen between the three groups with respect to total satisfaction of the repair effect (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The use of anterolateral thigh flap, pectoralis major myocutaneous flap and free forearm flap have good clinical effects in the repair of oro-maxillofacial region soft tissue defects, and the choice of skin flap is extensive. These findings are worthy of clinical promotion and application.