Functional reconstruction of mobile tongue and suprahyoid muscles after resection of cancer of the tongue

The mobile tongue and the suprahyoid muscles were reconstructed in a man wh o had had a total resection of the mobile tongue with the oral floor and bi lateral radical neck dissection (extensive resection of the bilateral supra hyoid muscles) for cancer of the tongue. A rectus abdominis musculocutaneou s flap with the tenth intercostal nerve anastomosed to the remaining hypogl ossal nerve was used for the reconstruction. The rectus abdominis muscle wa s inserted between the mandible and the hyoid bone, taking account of the a natomical positions of the tongue and suprahyoid muscles; the rectus sheath was then firmly sutured to the mandible and hyoid bone. This procedure cre ated firm tendinous insertions between the mandible and hyoid bone. After t he operation, the reconstructed tongue showed no sign of atrophy, and the r econstructed suprahyoid muscles (rectus abdominis muscle) could be moved, a nd the hyoid bone could be raised. (C) 2001 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.