Post Cancer Reconstruction

Plastic Surgeons are usually involved with the post cancer reconstruction of

• Head and Neck Cancers
• Breast Cancers
• Bone and soft tissue tumours of the trunk and extremity

Head and neck cancers are reconstructed in the same sitting in which the cancer tissue is removed. The commonly used pedicled flaps are Pectoralis Major Muscle Flap and Deltopectoral Flap. With the advent of Microsurgery these Flaps are now superseded by  Radial artery Free Flap, Free Fibula Flap and Anterolateral Thigh Flap.

Breasts can also be safely reconstructed in the same sitting as Tumour removal. The commonly done Flaps are the DIEP Free Flap, TRAM Flap, Latissimus Muscle Flap. There is also an option of reconstruction by Expander and Implant in cases where adequate skin is left.

Bone and soft tissue defects created by cancer tissue removal are covered by a wide range of procedures ranging from simple skin grafting to complex Free Flaps depending on the nature and depth of the defect.