I. Introduction
![]() | Fig. 1The main structures in the oral cavity showing lip, soft palate, retromolar trigone, tongue, gingiva, floor of mouth, tonsil and tonsillar fossae, buccal mucosa, and hard palate (upper), and identification of studies via MEDLINE/PubMed database after removing duplicates and irrelevant studies (lower). |

II. Methods

III. Results
1. Refined references
2. Scalp and skull base reconstruction
![]() | Fig. 2Local flaps for scalp reconstruction (upper) showing rotation (a), double opposing rotation flap (b), large rotation-advancement flap with skin grafting (c), and orticochea tripartite flap (d). Suggested basic algorithm for the scalp reconstruction (middle). The regional anatomy for this skull base reconstruction, divided as region I, II, and III (left lower), suggested algorithm for skull base reconstruction (right lower). (ALT: anterolateral thigh, RAM: rectus abdominis myocutaneous, RFF: radial forearm free, SA: serratus anterior muscle) |
3. Maxilla and midfacial reconstruction
![]() | Fig. 3Suggested basic algorithm for maxilla and midfacial reconstruction strategy (upper), and reconstructive classification of palatomaxillry defects (lower), as superstructure maxillectomy (a), posterior palatomaxillectomy (b), hemipalatomaxillectomy (c), premaxillary resection (d), bilateral palatomaxillectomy (e), maxillectomy with orbital floor resection (f), and maxillectomy with orbital exenteration (g). (ALT: anterolateral thigh, RAM: rectus abdominis myocutaneous, SA: serratus anterior muscle, RFF: radial forearm free, RFOC: radial forearm osteocutaneous) |
1) Basic maxillary reconstructive approach with a double-layer flap
2) Intraoral prosthesis for proper reconstruction of maxillary defects
3) Anterior palatomaxillectomy or premaxillary resection
4) Bilateral palatomaxillectomy
5) Superstructure maxillectomy with orbital floor defect
6) Maxillectomy with orbital exenteration defects or orbitomaxillectomy
4. Lip reconstruction
5. Reconstruction of tongue and floor of mouth
![]() | Fig. 6The basic suggested algorithm for tongue and floor of the mouth reconstruction (upper), two types of Abbe flap (lower) showing lower lip reconstruction (A, B) and upper lip reconstruction (C, D). (FOM: floor of the mouth, UAP: ulnar artery perforator, RFF: radial forearm free, ALT: anterolateral thigh) |
6. Reconstruction of buccal mucosa with/without skin
![]() | Fig. 7The basic suggested algorithm for buccal mucosa with skin reconstruction (upper). Three main different types of buccal mucosal reconstructions, showing a direct closure of anterior mucosal defect (A, B), buccal fat graft (C) or posterior mucosa defect combined defects including maxillary tuberosity (D) and dorsalis pedis free flap harvesting (E) and its setting appearance (F) on the middle, two fasciocutaneous flap based on radial forearm free flap connected with peroneus perforator flap (G), and its setting in the perforated buccal skin defect (H). (FAMM: facial artery musculomucosal, RFF: radial forearm free, DPA: dorsalis pedis artery, ALT: anterolateral thigh) |
![]() | Fig. 8Cannulation of stensen’s duct for keeping its patency and maintenance for further salivary tract (left upper). Clinical example of fibular composite free flap reconstruction of mandibular anterior defect (right upper), intraoral view of squamous cell carcinoma in the anterior mandibular gingiva showing peri-implant oral malignancy (A), ablated defect (B), harvesting of fibular free flap with skin pedicle by referencing of surgical bending guide (C), and healed appearance of lower face after 6 weeks (D). Basic suggested algorithm for mandibular reconstruction (lower), by dividing anterior defect (a), only lateral part (b), latero-posterior part including mandibular angle (c), and posterior defects including condyle (d). (PM: pectolaris major, LD: latissimus dorsi) |
7. Mandible reconstruction
8. Retromolar trigone reconstruction
![]() | Fig. 9Clinical examples of diverse oral mucosal malignancy in the retromolar trigone region (A-C) and representative view of positron emission tomography (D). Reconstructive options from skin graft on the retromolar trigone (E), single R-plate reconstruction after mandibulectomy (F), and R-plate and combined soft tissue flap reconstruction after mandibulectomy and partial maxillectomy case (G). Deficient hyoid originated muscles might not be covered with long bridged R-plate (H), hyoid bone must be tried to be attached to new reconstructed R-plate and coverage muscles by suing of non-resorbable suture materials (I), which is named as transhyoid laryngeal suspension. Trans hyoid laryngeal suspension by anchorage attachment between glottis and Para hyoid muscles and inferior border of mandible with non-resorbable sutures (J-L). Extensively advanced oral cancer ablations and anatomical reconstruction by latissimus dorsi (LD) free flap having double skin islands, preoperative intraoral appearance (M), wide resections with negative margin results of frozen biopsy (N), R-plate reconstruction in resected mandible and cannula insertion to the cutting Stensen’s duct (O), LD flap harvesting with two skin islands (P), inset appearance of LD flap by surrounding of R-plate (Q), trimming and refining for anatomical reconstruction (R), intraoral skin coverage status (S), and extraoral reconstruction status (T). |
9. Recovery of neck functions
10. Options in the extensive defects of face and oral cavity

IV. Conclusion
![]() | Fig. 10Suggested options for the ideal maxillofacial reconstruction, from the scalp and skull base (left upper) to the neck part (right lower). Total thirteen regions can be shown by diverse reconstruction options, such as temporoparietal fascia, radial forearm free (RFF) flap, anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap, silicone facial prosthesis, functional obturator, iliac flap, facial artery musculomucosal (FAMM) flap, anteromedial thigh (AMT) flap, local flap, ear flap, median forehead flap, nasolabial flap, dorsalis pedis (DP) free flap, pectolaris major (PM) flap, lateral upper arm free flap (LUAF), rectus abdominis (RA) flap, reconstruction plate (R-plate), latissimus dorsi (LD) flap, and transport disc distraction osteogenesis (TDDO). |
