A private hospital in Pune has successfully completed a free flap procedure for head and neck reconstruction using the superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP), marking a noteworthy advancement in reconstructive surgery. This complex operation, performed by renowned plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Pranav Thusay, represents a significant breakthrough in the management of patients with hemiglossectomy abnormalities, especially those resulting from malignant tumors.
Diseases like cancer frequently require hemiglossectomy, a surgical operation that involves removing half of the tongue. Although this surgery is necessary to treat the underlying condition, there are significant risks involved, such as significant functional and cosmetic limitations. Following surgery, patients frequently have trouble speaking, swallowing, and taking care of their teeth. In addition to highlighting the procedure’s importance in reducing these side effects, Dr. Thusay called the SCIP free flap a revolutionary development in head and neck reconstruction.
Because of the tongue’s intricate architecture and special function, reconstruction of the organ is renowned for being difficult. Using the SCIP free flap procedure, a thin, malleable flap of tissue is taken from the groin and lower abdomen. To replace the missing tongue or buccal mucosa tissue, this tissue flap—which is dense with perforator blood capillaries with sizes ranging from 0.5 to 0.8 mm—is carefully transferred to the head and neck region. Surgeons use a microscope to use sutures that are thinner than a single hair strand to join the major neck vessels to the tiny blood vessels in the flap.
Comparing the SCIP free flap to more conventional tongue repair techniques reveals a number of benefits. The decreased morbidity at the donor site is one important advantage. In order to minimize apparent scarring, the tissue is taken from a discrete area of the abdomen, leaving a single line scar that is concealed under the undergarment. Furthermore, because the flap is malleable and non-hairy, it offers an excellent tissue match for reconstruction—an essential component for regaining the tongue’s functional skills.
Renowned oncosurgeon Dr. Sujay Hedge emphasized that in some circumstances, the SCIP free flap may be a better option than the free radial forearm flap. Of particular importance is the procedure’s capacity to produce a thin, malleable tissue flap that improves tongue functionality and movement. Plastic surgeons now have more reconstructive alternatives at their disposal, which enables them to provide patients undergoing head and neck reconstruction with more functional and aesthetically acceptable results.
Reconstructive surgery has advanced significantly as a result of Pune’s successful application of SCIP free flap surgery. This method creates new opportunities for cutting-edge surgical procedures in head and neck reconstruction in addition to addressing the functional and esthetic issues related to hemiglossectomy.
SOURCE:
ECONOMIC TIMES
