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Reconstructive Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery pp 103–127Cite as

Reconstruction of Soft Tissue Defects Using Microsurgical Flaps

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Abstract

Reconstructive surgery of the soft tissue of the head and neck is a challenge for the surgeon owing to the three-dimensional nature of the face and its tissues.

When deciding on a reconstructive technique, the traditional idea that the simplest reconstruction is usually the best should always be taken into account, as long as the basic tenets of functionality and cosmetic requirements are met. Therefore, defects that can be satisfactorily resolved using local or regional flaps should not be reconstructed using microsurgery. However, some patients need greater tissue bulk, which can only be harvested from distant regions, and would therefore benefit from free flap-based reconstruction techniques.

This chapter addresses the microsurgical free flaps most commonly used for reconstruction of the soft tissue of the head and neck. Advantages and disadvantages are presented.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Consultant at Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Virgen de la Salud Hospital, Toledo, Spain

    Ignacio Navarro Cuellar MD, DDS, FEBOMS

  2. Consultant at Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, La Paz University Hospital, Madrid, Spain

    Teresa González Otero MD, PhD, FEBOMS

  3. Consultant at Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, University Hospital del Sur, Madrid, Spain

    José Alfonso Ruiz Cruz MD, DDS, FEBOMS

  4. Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Carlos Navarro Vila MD, DMD, PhD, FEBOMS (Full professor, Medical Faculty)

  5. Head of Oral and Maxillofacial Department Surgery, Gregorio Marañón General University Hospital, Madrid, Spain

    Carlos Navarro Vila MD, DMD, PhD, FEBOMS (Full professor, Medical Faculty)

  6. Académico Correspondiente of the Royal National Academy of Medicine of Spain, Madrid, Spain

    Carlos Navarro Vila MD, DMD, PhD, FEBOMS (Full professor, Medical Faculty)

Authors
  1. Ignacio Navarro Cuellar MD, DDS, FEBOMS
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  2. Teresa González Otero MD, PhD, FEBOMS
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  3. José Alfonso Ruiz Cruz MD, DDS, FEBOMS
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  4. Carlos Navarro Vila MD, DMD, PhD, FEBOMS
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ignacio Navarro Cuellar MD, DDS, FEBOMS .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain

    Carlos Navarro Vila

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© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Cite this chapter

Navarro Cuellar, I., González Otero, T., Ruiz Cruz, J.A., Navarro Vila, C. (2015). Reconstruction of Soft Tissue Defects Using Microsurgical Flaps. In: Navarro Vila, C. (eds) Reconstructive Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20487-1_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20487-1_4

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-20486-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-20487-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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