| Reconstruction of the oral cavity (jaws, floor of mouth and tongue) often requires microsurgical free flaps to transplant healthy tissue to replace what has been removed. Following oral cavity reconstruction, patients remain in hospital for several day during which time they are monitored, oral intake is slowly restarted, and they slowly rehabilitate.
Nasal reconstruction is a very complex process because of the very cosmetic nature of the nose. First and foremost the nasal airway is recreated. Next, attention is payed to the appearance. Nasal reconstruction can be performed using 'local' flaps from the facial area. In rare cases a flap needs to be transplanted from another area of the body, such as the forearm. Forearm free flaps and forehead flaps are common for larger defects. |
Scalp reconstruction following cranial or neurosurgical procedures can sometime require that the entire scalp needs to be covered by healthy tissue. In such cases a lattissimus dorsi free flap and a skin graft are used. Latissimus dorsi is a muscle flap which over time shrinks and contours itself to the skull shape. It does not have hair and is not a candidate for hair transplantation. Therefore a wig will have to be used.
Dr. Jugenburg has trained in Winnipeg and at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, with a worldwide reputation as a center of excellence in Head and Neck Cancer Reconstruction. For more information on reconstructive procedures, visit our sister site www.microsurgeon.ca |
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