The Rectus Abdominis Free Flap in Head and Neck Reconstruction

Expansion in the scope and technique of head and neck tumor resection during the past 10 years has paralleled precise tumor localization with advanced radiographic imaging and the availability of microvascular free tissue transfer. Urken and his colleagues,1 in an article published in the August 1991 issue of the Archives, have aptly demonstrated the needs presented by extensive head and neck resection as well as the anatomy and utilization of the rectus abdominis free flap in this application. Several points in their article deserve emphasis. My own experience with more than 100 free flap reconstructions of defects involving the skull base and adjacent areas will also serve to amplify the utility of the rectus abdominis free flap. See August 1991 issue, p 857. At the present time, the only pedicled flap that potentially provides a similar amount of tissue bulk and skin area as the rectus free flap is