IDEAS AND INNOVATIONS Maximizing Flap Inset for Tongue Reconstruction

Functional reconstruction of the oral cavityfollowing a partial glossectomy is vital to re-habilitation of speech, deglutition, and oral hygiene. Despite efforts to restore normal articu-lation and swallowing after such procedures,many patients are left with suboptimal function. Principles of anterior tongue reconstruction include preservation of the native tongue’s bulk, mobility, and shape. The radial forearm free flap is favored for achieving these goals because of its thinness, pliability, ease of harvest, and reliability. The lateral thigh flap has also been advocated in Asian, thin, or cachectic patients.1,2 Although tech-niques have been developed to increase the func-tional outcome of hemiglossectomy reconstruc-tion, few address the component of flap inset. This article describes two modifications of flap inset i