Outcomes of younger and older patients with palatal cancer undergoing pedicled facial-submental artery island flap reconstruction

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of younger and older patients with palatal cancer undergoing reconstruction using the pedicled facial-submental artery island flap (FSAIF) following cancer ablation. Fifty-eight patients with palatal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were divided into two age groups: <= 60 years (n = 31) and >60 years (n = 27). By clinical SCC stage, 6.4%, 83.9%, and 9.7% of the younger group and 3.7%, 85.2%, and 11.1% of the older group were stage I, II, and Ill, respectively. The incidence of comorbid conditions was 35.5% (11/31) in those <= 60 years and 137.0% (37/27) in those >60 years. Brown class II maxillary defects (four class Ha, 44 class IIb, three class IIc, and seven class IId) were repaired using FSAIFs following cancer ablation. There were two flap failures; thus the success rate was 96.6%. Significant differences in mean age and the incidence of comorbid conditions were evident between the groups. No significant differences in TNM stage, maxillary defect classification, flap size, overall flap survival, rates of local and general complications, or survival status was evident between the groups. The FSAIF is a reliable and safe method for repairing Brown class II maxillary defects following cancer ablation, particularly in older patients.