The masseter muscle flap.

Abstract

This little-used muscle flap has four significant applications in radical ablation about the palate, pharynx, and mesopharynx that include the ascending ramus of the mandible, a portion of the tongue and lateral neck, and in radical operations on the parotid gland causing a facial paralysis: 1. It assists in the rehabilitation of the act of swallowing when it is sutured to the lateral hyoid arch, thus elevating the thyrohyoid complex and reinforcing this portion of the upper lateral neck. 2. This flap may be transposed over the upper portion of the internal carotid artery to provide protection for this vital structure. 3. This flap may be transposed into the internal nasopharynx and then dressed with a free split thickness skin graft to close this wound and to augment the nasopharynx, with improvement in speec and swallowing. 4. In facial paralysis it can be used to restore facial movement around the oral commissure and melolabial folds, thus improving appearance in repose and animation.