The functional tongue-heightening stitch following subtotal glossectomy

摘要

An efficient swallow requires a mobile tongue, with the dorsum able to come into broad contact with the roof of the mouth. This enables the food bolus to be pushed back into the oropharynx. Resection of tongue volume reduces the ability of the dorsal tongue to make sufficient contact for complete bolus movement in a single action. Many complex procedures for tongue reconstruction have been described. Their goal is to recreate bulk as well as preserving mobility of the tongue. The outcome of these procedures is often suboptimal as the bulk created remains insensate and immobile. Hsiao and colleagues compared free flap reconstruction with primary closure following hemiglossectomy and found that articulation was better in the primary closure group, since the flap restricted mobility of the residual tongue.