COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF CHIMERIC ANTEROLATERAL THIGH FLAPS AND STANDARD ALT FLAPS FOR MAXILLA-ALVEOLAR EXCISION REPAIR IN PATIENTS WITH HEAD AND NECK CANCER

Abstract

Background: When oral malignant lesions appear at a locally advanced stage, the maxillary cavity is typically left open 
during the intricate surgical resection. Concerns including further operations, delayed adjuvant therapy, extended hospital 
stays, flap necrosis, fistula formation, and/or poor healing are brought on by the maxilla's continuous production. Several 
approaches have been tried to get rid of this, but each has its own challenges.  
Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the chimeric anterolateral thigh flap with the standard ALT flap for the 
reconstruction of maxilla-alveolar excision in patients with head and neck cancer. 
Methods: In order to determine the benefits of reconstruction for maxillo-alveolar resections using chimeric ALT with 
VL (vastus lateralis) that were treated at the Institute throughout the specified study period, the study evaluated 80 
individuals. These 40 participants were compared to another 40 age and gender-matched controls in the study, where 
standard ALT was used for reconstruction. The duration of adjuvant therapy, length of hospital stay, postoperative 
secretions, adequate maxillary sinus fill, intraoperative ease, and postoperative complications were analyzed using the 
modified Clavien-Dindo classification.  
Results: The study's findings demonstrated that chimeric ALT and VL provide more mobility for simple maxillary cavity 
plugging. Subjects in the chimeric arm with shorter mean hospital stays experience fewer problems. Adjuvant treatment 
was administered to the majority of individuals within their ideal time frame.  
Conclusion: The current study comes to the conclusion that chimeric ALT combined with vastus lateralis muscles is a 
dependable option for reconstructing complex deformities, especially in cavities with dead areas like the maxillary sinus. 
Effective maxillary sinus plugging for primary surgery improves patient outcomes and needs to be performed on a regular 
basis. 
Keywords: ALT flap, chimeric anterolateral thigh flap, head and neck cancer, maxilla-alveolar resection, surgical 
resections