Vastus lateralis myofascial free flap for tongue reconstruction and hypoglossal-femoral anastomosis: neurophysiological study

Background Total or nearly glossectomy with laryngeal preservation may lead to development of dysfunction speech, chewing,and swallowing with orally disabled. Pellini et al. analyze the feasibility of vastus lateralis myofascial free flap (VLMFF) intongue reconstruction and demonstrated that this treatment offers a better cosmetic result in tongue reconstruction, an adequatebulk when needed, a mass reduction of neo-tongue after 30 days post-surgery of 20–30%, an optimal functional results, and anobliteration of dead space and with thus preventing fistulas and infections with minimal morbidity. The aim of our study was toevaluate the innervation of tongue reconstruction performed with nerve anastomosis between the unilateral hypoglossal nerveand branch for vastus lateralis muscle of femoral nerve with neurophysiological study.Results We performed a neurophysiological evaluation of four patients who underwent surgery and observed a reinnervation oftongue flap by the anastomosis hypoglossal-femoral nerve for the reconstruction of neo-tongue with vastus lateralis myofascialfree flap. The reconstruction of neo-tongue with vastus lateralis myofascial free flap may be represent a valid surgery for patientswith cancer tongue.