Synchronous reconstruction of the floor of mouth and chin with a single skin island fibular free flap.

Objectives: The goal this presentation is to: 1) Review the reconstructive options for anterior mandible through-and-through composite defects and 2) Instruct the audience in the application of the double-skin paddle fibular flap in selected patients.
Methods: Case presentation with review of the literature.
Results: A 70-year old male with an anterior floor of mouth squamous cell carcinoma underwent composite resection that included resection of a 5-cm ovoid component of overlying chin skin. The defect was reconstructed with a fibular osteocutaneous flap with a double skin paddle technique.
Conclusions: Several reconstructive options have been described in the literature for extended oral cavity defects including the use of multiple free flaps, combinations of regional and distant flaps, and sequential reconstruction. This case report reviews the use of a single flap reconstruction of these defects for selected patients.
((c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Microsurgery, 2008)