MOBILE TONGUE RECONSTRUCTION WITH THE FREE DORSALIS-PEDIS FLAP

Reconstruction of the mobile tongue needs soft and thin tissue not to disturb tongue movement, and therefore a free forearm flap has usually been used for this kind of reconstruction. However, it entails a cosm etic problem, especially for young people. We have detained good resul ts with tongue reconstructions using free dorsalis pedis flaps. The do nor site of the dorsalis pedis flap is inconspicuous. The dorsalis ped is flap is thin (even among obese persons), has a long vessel pedicle, and stable blood supply. In cases of head and neck reconstruction, tw o teams can easily operate simultaneously. This flap is not as large a s a forearm flap but it is large enough for hemitongue reconstruction. We measured the thickness of the soft tissue of both the dorsalis ped is and the forearm among obese volunteers. Dorsalis pedis was not as t hick as the forearm.