Operative Efficiency and Early Outcomes of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Flap Versus Microvascular Free Flap…

Cohort studyJournal of oral and maxillofacial surgery : official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons· Jul 2026

Operative Efficiency and Early Outcomes of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Flap Versus Microvascular Free Flap for Floor-of-Mouth Reconstruction.

Berrak Karatan, Eray Uzunoğlu, Tankut Uzun … Togay Müderris

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Microsurgery & FlapsCohort studyTreatmentQ1IF 1.6

Sternocleidomastoid flap cut operative time by over 2.5 hours versus free flap

Operative Efficiency and Early Outcomes of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Flap Versus Microvascular Free Flap for Floor-of-Mouth Reconstruction.

Berrak Karatan … Togay Müderris

Journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery · Jul 2026 · Q1 in Surgery

Background

Microvascular free flaps are standard for complex floor-of-mouth (floor-of-mouth) reconstruction, but regional options may be preferable for selected soft-tissue defects not requiring bony reconstruction.

Purpose

To compare operative time and early outcomes between sternocleidomastoid (sternocleidomastoid) muscle flaps and microvascular free flaps after oncologic floor-of-mouth resection.

Methods

STUDY DESIGN, SETTING, SAMPLE: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Bakırçay University Çiğli Training and Research Hospital.

n = 33 subjects

Results

free flap reconstruction added over 3 hours of operating time versus sternocleidomastoid flap

SCM flap

295.3minute

Free flap

456.8minute

More results

Operative time was 295.3 (99.9) and 456.8 (156.4) minutes for the sternocleidomastoid and free flap groups, respectively (P = .003).

LOS was 13.2 (4.5) and 20.4 (6.1) days, respectively (P = .002).

Intensive care unit (intensive care unit) LOS was 0.4 (0.5) and 1.6 (0.6) days, respectively (P < .001).

More results

Intensive care unit admission occurred in 7 of 17 sternocleidomastoid subjects (41.2%) and 16 of 16 free flap subjects (100%) (P < .001).

“

Conclusion

For selected floor-of-mouth soft-tissue defects not requiring bony reconstruction, sternocleidomastoid muscle flap reconstruction was associated with shorter operative time, shorter hospitalization, and reduced intensive care unit use with comparable early oral intake.

Operative Efficiency and Early Outcomes of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Flap Versus Microvascular Free Flap for Floor-of-Mouth Reconstruction.

Operative Efficiency and Early Outcomes of Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Flap Versus Microvascular Free Flap for Floor-of-Mouth Reconstruction.

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