At our department, the 5-year survival rate for patients with maxillary cancer has been more than 70%. This has been achieved by a high dose irradiation (60 Gy) and aggressive radical surgery with subsequent primary reconstructive surgery. The wound over the widely exposed tendons of the pterygoid muscle and temporal muscle around the mandibula, middle cranial base, orbital content and the subcutaneous tissue of the face is covered primarily by the thick flap to prevent the post operative complications, such as trisums, cicatricial contracture of the face, necrosis of the cranial base and formation of facial fistula.
Recently, the osteocutaneuous forearm flap has been preferred in the reconstruction to improve postoperative facial disfigurement and functional impairments. Advantages and disadvantages of the flap are discussed.
