Reconstruction of intraoral defects using facial artery musculomucosal flap

The facial artery musculomucosal flap, technically a combination of the nasolabial flap and the buccal mucosal flap, has been a reliable, versatile flap, either superiorly or inferiorly based for reconstruction of a wide variety of postcancer excision intraoral mucosal defects including defects of the palate, alveolus, tips and floor of mouth. We have used it 17 times in 16 patients with no failures and one flap with terminal necrosis. Almost all flaps developed venous congestion which settled on its own by conservative management. (c) 2005 The British Association of Plastic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.