Abstract: PURPOSE: To compare the outcomes of using multiple kinds of sternocleidomastoid flap or free flaps to repair defects after oral cancer surgery. METHODS: Twenty-eight cases using sternocleidomastoid flaps and 30 cases using free flaps were included in this study. Operation was performed in 58 patients with oral cavity cancer. The basic and surgical informations, and postoperative function were analyzed between two groups with SPSS 22.0 software package. RESULTS: The tumor size mostly belonged to T1-T2, and the primary sites were the tongue, lower gingiva, floor of mouth, base of tongue or oropharynx in patients undergoing sternocleidomastoid flaps, whose average age was higher, surgical time was shorter, systemic diseases was more serious, and surgical cost, hospital stay, tracheotomy rate was less than patients undergoing free flaps (P<0.05). Patients in the two groups had similar oral function after surgery (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Selection of sternocleidomastoid flaps or free flaps for repairing oral cancer defects is dependent on a variety of factors such as the age of patients, the size and location of tumor, metastasis of cervical lymph nodes and the general conditions. Sternocleidomastoid flap is a good choice for patients with advanced ages, small size of lesions (T1-T2) and concomitant systemic diseases.

Key words: Sternocleidomastoid flap, Oral cavity reconstruction, Free flap, Oral cavity cancer