Microvascular reconstruction for cutaneous defects

Microvascular surgery has revolutionized the management of head and neck cancer. Prior to the possibility of free-tissue transfer, treatment of advanced cutaneous cancer was limited by a lack of adequate reconstructive methods for large surface defects. Today almost any defect can be repaired. Skin, muscle, bone, or viscera can be transferred from a distant site and reshaped to simulate missing structures or provide a foundation for maxillofacial prostheses. This article discusses several new opportunities available for patients with advanced skin malignancies in the head and neck.