Background and Objective

Current techniques for head and neck reconstruction are mainly based on free flaps, fasciocutaneous or visceral according to the defect. The evolution of microsurgery has relegated to the background the pedicled flaps. The pedicled myocutaneous pectoralis major flap has been one of the most employed until the generalization of free flaps. Their disadvantages such as bulky or functional and aesthetic sequelae, are responsible for its current disuse.

We present a modification to the classic technique of pectoralis major flap to reduce its disadvantages.

Methods

We make a technical description of the modification developed by Márquez-Cañada of the pectoralis major flap for cervical defects reconstruction and a descriptive study on a group of patients submitted to it.

Results

We collected 6 cases, 5 males and 1 females (mean age 52.5 years), in which the described technique was used. The most frequent defect (66.7%) was the pharyngostoma secondary to total laryngectomy and cervical emptying secondary a epidermoid carcinoma of the larynx. Mean time between surgeries was 5-week. In 2 cases, there was serohematoma in the donor site after the first surgical time. There was no loss of grafts or necrosis, fistulas or secondary stenoses. Acceptable esthetic result; patients maintained complete arm mobility.

Conclusions

We observed a reduction in the number of complications with respect to the use of the classic pectoralis and free flaps. We believe that the technical modification that we present, due to its reproducibility and its low complication rate, could be used in neck reconstruction as a flap of choice in patients or high risk, not candidates for microsurgical techniques.

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