[Application of sliding vermilion flap in angulus oris defect after buccal mucosa cancer ablation].

[PURPOSE] To evaluate the effect of sliding vermilion flap in angulus oris defect after buccal mucosal cancer ablation.

[METHODS] A total of 33 patients with buccal mucosal cancer who underwent buccal mucosal cancer radical surgery and resection of angulus oris, and reconstructed with free anterolateral thigh flap transfer and sliding vermilion flap were collected from January 2015 to April 2021 in Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Second Xiangya Hospital. Thirty-three patients with buccal mucosal cancer admitted to Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University from January 2015 to April 2021 were selected. All patients underwent combined buccal-mandibulectomy and neck radical operation and resection of oral angle, and underwent anterolateral femoral free flap and lip red elastic flap reconstruction. The angulus oris outcome, aesthetics outcome, masticatory efficacy, swallowing and speech function were assessed by FACT-HN (The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck). The mouth opening was measured and recorded. SPSS 19.0 software package was used for statistical analysis of the data.

[RESULTS] The success rate of free flap transplantation was 100% in 33 patients. Although the aesthetics outcome was decreased at postoperative 1 year compared with that of preoperative duration (P＜0.001), there was no significant difference of angulus oris outcome at postoperative 1 year compared with that of preoperative duration (P＞0.05). Moreover, the masticatory function was significantly improved at postoperative 1 year compared with that of preoperative duration(P=0.004). However, there was no significant difference of speech and swallowing function at postoperative 1 year compared with that of preoperative duration (P＞0.05). The mouth opening was significantly improved at postoperative 1 year compared with that of preoperative duration(P＜0.05), and the satisfaction of mouth opening in these patients was 75.7%.

[CONCLUSIONS] The use of sliding vermilion flap can ideally repair the angulus oris, and offer a novel method to reconstruct defect of angulus oris.