A flag-shaped anterolateral thigh free flap for complete circumferential hypopharyngeal reconstruction with dead space obliteration and monitoring flap inset

The challenging issues are to prevent anastomotic leakage and provide sufficient flap monitoring in circumferential hypopharyngeal reconstruction. In this study, a newly designed flag-shaped anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap was used for circumferential hypopharyngeal reconstruction to address these issues.Eighteen ALT flaps were harvested for reconstruction of circumferential hypopharyngeal defects from 2013 to 2016. The harvested ALT flap...