Part II: Oral Soft Tissue Defects: Soft Tissue Reconstruction of Intraoral Soft Tissue Defects With Local Flaps

The complex characteristics of oral tissues require an individualized approach to different defects as well as the condition of the defective area (previous radiation therapy, previous trauma with significant scarring, etc.). Local flaps may include intraoral donor sites like the palate, the buccal fat pad, tongue, pharyngeal, or buccal tissue. Other loco-regional options may include the platysma flap, temporoparietal flap, temporal muscle flap, and nasolabial flap. The indications should be evaluated on the availability, pliability, and vascularity of the flaps, the arc of rotation, and the potential donor site morbidity associated with the reconstruction of the defect.