TUBED, FOLDED RADIAL FOREARM FREE-FLAP FOR PHARYNGEAL RECONSTRUCTION AND VOICE REHABILITATION

Reconstruction after total laryngectomy ideally includes restoration o f voice with protected swallowing. Local flaps and tracheoesophageal p uncture with a prosthesis are widely used to accomplish this. Persiste nt problems, perhaps inherent to this solution, have led to the recent use of a tubed, folded radial forearm free flap for postlaryngectomy reconstruction. This flap has produced a good voice with low phonation pressures and minimal aspiration in 7 patients. A new configuration f or this flap is described and 3 patients reported. Our flap's advantag es include a simplified pedicle path, ease of construction, remote mic roanastomosis, and safer revision. Both patients with surviving flaps rapidly developed a good voice after reconstruction. Mild aspiration i n 1 delayed oral intake and forced a successful revision. Our reconfig ured flap may have some technical advantages, survives to length, and restores a good voice without significant aspiration. This and its sim ple care make it popular with patients. Development of this flap holds promise of more complete reconstruction after total laryngectomy.