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The gold standard for mandibular defect reconstruction is the fibular free flap. Nevertheless, the pedicled osteomuscular dorsal scapular flap as a reconstructive tool offers promise for mandibular defect reconstruction and could be the first choice in certain circumstances. Its use in resource-limited settings offers an excellent solution to otherwise difficult reconstructive problems of the mandible. In 8 patients, mandibular defects resulting from the excision of benign tumors (6), trauma (1), and chronic osteomyelitis (1) were reconstructed using the pedicled osteomuscular dorsal scapular flap; these defects included the central segment of the mandible. The pedicled osteomuscular dorsal scapular flap is an excellent choice for mandibular reconstruction; it may serve as the primary choice in patients with vascular pathology that precludes free tissue transfer, as well as in resource-limited environments, as a secondary choice after a failed free flap reconstruction.

Cutaneous malignancies are the most common malignancies in Whites; traditionally considered rare among Blacks, their occurrence in sub-Saharan Africa is yet to be fully characterized.Data on specimens submitted between 1992 and April 2008 on all histologically proven primary cutaneous malignancies were collected from the Pathology Department, including patient age, sex, anatomic site of malignancy, and histologic diagnosis. There were 1900 patients with primary cutaneous malignancies, aged between 8 months and 110 years, with a mean age of 49 years. There were 14 different types of malignancies found, with squamous cell carcinoma representing 45% of the total. A number of the rarer types have not been reported previously, from this region.Cutaneous malignancies in Africa present a number of management challenges including the following: difficulties in early diagnosis in the dark skin, late presentation, access to treatment, and the ability to pay for the appropriate treatment. The current human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome scourge on the continent may lead a significant increase in cutaneous malignancies, posing even bigger challenges.