Patient Testimonial for Composite Resection

Composite resection is a surgical procedure used to treat oropharyngeal and laryngeal cancers that involves removing part of the mouth and lower jaw. Cancer cells that invade bone are extremely difficult to destroy with chemotherapy and/or radiation, so the cancerous bone must be removed. This resection results in significant functional and cosmetic deformity, necessitating flap reconstruction.

The radial forearm free flap (RFFF) is a versatile reconstructive technique used to repair oral cavity defects after cancerous tumour resection. It is widely used for microvascular reconstruction of the tongue, intraoral soft tissue, oropharynx, soft palate, hypopharynx, cervical oesophagus, and selected cutaneous defects, and has a high success rate.

The primary contraindications to using this flap are insufficient collateral blood flow to the hand, radial artery anomalies, and prior surgical or traumatic injury to the radial artery. Although it is preferable to use the non-dominant arm, there is little functional loss after flap harvest.

Mr. Prasad Nicodemus from Hyderabad, Telangana, successfully underwent Composite Resection with Radial Free Forearm Flap at Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad, under the supervision of Dr. K. Sreekanth, Sr. Consultant Surgical Oncologist.