Various arrangements of pharyngeal flap in soft palate reconstruction after cancer treatment.

[BACKGROUND] The pharyngeal flap (PF) is useful for reconstruction of soft palate defects, but effective arrangements of PF for various types of soft palate defects are controversial. Here, we classify three types of soft palate defects and discuss the arrangements of PF and their functional prognosis.

[METHODS] Reconstruction was performed based on the classification of the defects. Clinical details were collected, and postoperative function was analyzed.

[RESULTS] Eight patients were included in the study. The defect sizes ranged from 25 (width) × 40 (depth) to 40 × 60 mm. Six patients underwent pharyngeal flap reconstruction with free-flap reconstruction, and two underwent pharyngeal flap reconstruction. The pharyngeal flap was harvested at the maximum width of the posterior pharyngeal wall, ranging from 25 to 40 mm in length. Eating and speaking functions were maintained in all patients.

[CONCLUSIONS] Good postoperative function can be maintained by narrowing the velopharyngeal space with a pharyngeal flap.