TEMPORALIS MYOFASCIAL FLAP IN MAXILLOFACIAL RECONSTRUCTION - CLINICALAND HISTOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE ORAL HEALING-PROCESS

Objectives-To report our experience with temporalis myofascial flaps ( TMF), describe the healing process of uncovered flaps in the mouth, an d the histology of the repaired mucosa in the long term, Design-Prospe ctive clinical and histological study. Subjects-36 patients who receiv ed a TMF over a 6.5 year period for serial assessment of (he oral heal ing, 24 patients whose scars over the reconstructed area were assessed clinically, and 11 whose repaired mucosa was assessed histologically, Main outcome measures-To follow the clinical process of oral healing of the TMF and describe the repaired mucosa healed over the flap. Resu lts-The uncovered TMF in the mouth healed gradually starting with an a cute inflammatory phase, going through chronic inflammatory and prolif erative phases with eventual epithelialisation of the oral mucosa, The re were no major complications, The healed mucosa showed mild scarring in 70% of cases and the repaired mucosa had characteristic histologic al features that were distinct from the normal mucosa. Conclusion-The TMF is an extremely reliable and versatile flap for maxillofacial reco nstruction which heals gradually with eventual coverage by mildly scar red repaired mucosa.