Local tongue flap for posterolateral tongue defects after partial glossectomy: a prospective cohort study

Objectives Tongue is a common site of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (OTSCC) with the subsequent high rate of local or regional recurrence owing to the complexity of its structure. In the present prospective study, we aimed to evaluate the novel local tongue flap technique for reconstruction of posterolateral tongue defects after partial glossectomy. Patients and methods The present study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Menoufia University Hospital. We conducted a prospective cohort study on 17 patients with OTSCC who underwent partial glossectomy. Local tongue flap was performed to reconstruct posterolateral tongue defects after partial glossectomy. Patients were followed for 2 months postoperatively. Results Most patients were male (70%), and the mean age of included patients was 57.47±9.53 years. Tumors were locally excised with mean safety margins of 1.06±0.48 cm and 64% of the patients with OTSCC underwent neck dissection. Postoperatively, 82.5% of the patients exhibited a good tongue healing result with adequate tongue function. Three (17.6) patients experienced tongue infection with partial dehiscence, which healed completely after 2 weeks with conservative treatment. Conclusion Local tongue flap is an effective technique for reconstruction of posterolateral tongue defects after partial glossectomy.