Abstract
In the era of free flaps, we propose a simple yet effective local flap, the digastric muscle flap, to reconstruct floor of the mouth defects and to repair an orocervical fistula that is created during excision of tongue and/or floor of the mouth malignancies. The digastric muscle flap was used in 15 patients who were diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and/or floor of the mouth. Partial glossectomy was performed in 4 cases, hemiglossectomy in 4 cases, and wide local excision in 7 cases. Adjuvant radiation was given in 9 patients. In all cases, the neck was addressed followed by the tumour excision. The floor of the mouth defect created while excising the tumour was repaired with the digastric muscle flap. Post-operative healing was satisfactory in all the cases. No flap failure was seen even in radiated cases. Patients were discharged by the 5th-7th day. Oral feeds were started by the 10th day. Patients were followed for 3 months to 5 years. The digastric muscle flap is an ideal flap for reconstructing small- to medium-sized floor of the mouth defects. The flap can withstand radiation. Due to the high success rate, we propose utilisation of this flap in reconstructing floor of the mouth defects and to seal orocervical fistulas.