Secondary Cervicofacial Soft Tissue Reconstruction With Upper Trapezius Myocutaneous Flap in 'Frozen Neck' With Bone Flap and Reconstructive Plate Exposure

A frozen neck is a scarred neck with severe fibrosis with a loss of tissue planes secondary to prior irradiation with or without surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of cervicofacial reconstruction in patients with soft tissue defects and bone flap and reconstruction plate exposure with the upper trapezius myocutaneous flap. Fifteen oncologic patients with prior surgery and radiotherapy developed soft tissue dehiscence with bone and osteosynthesis material exposure. All patients had either a frozen neck or a vessel-depleted neck. The soft tissue defects were reconstructed, the osteosynthesis material was removed and the bone flap exposure was covered in all patients. One patient developed a seroma and 1 patient reported wound dehiscence. In terms of esthetic results, 6 patients referred a good esthetic result, whereas 8 patients referred a fair result and 1 patient a poor result. Two patients with prior radical neck dissection reported a poor functional result in the ipsilateral shoulder, previously to secondary reconstruction. Functional neck dissection was performed in 10 patients, 8 patients referred a good functional outcome and 2 patients reported a fair result. The upper trapezius flap is an extremely reliable source for secondary cervicofacial soft tissue reconstruction in "frozen neck." In comparison with other locoregional flaps, the upper trapezius flap fulfills all aesthetic and functional criteria for secondary cervicofacial soft tissue reconstruction.