Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41888745›Full record

ArticleBMC surgery2026

Reinnervated free gracilis flap with basal curtain barrier for tongue reconstruction: a case series and surgical technique.

Shuai Li, ZhuoMing Feng, QianWei Tang, XiaoMeng Wang, XiKun Ban, JingLian Luo, ZhenTing Qin, FeiXin Liang

Abstract readCase Reports
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Shuai Li *Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical University, No 10 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China.
ZhuoMing Feng *Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical University, No 10 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China.
QianWei Tang *Department of Pediatric Dentistry, College of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
XiaoMeng WangDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical University, No 10 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China.
XiKun BanDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical University, No 10 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China.
JingLian LuoDepartment of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
ZhenTing QinDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical University, No 10 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China.
FeiXin LiangDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, Guangxi Medical University, No 10 Shuangyong Road, Nanning, Guangxi, 530021, China. liangfx@hotmail.com.

Funding

Guangxi Medical & Health Appropriate Technology Development and Promotion Application Project S2024122National Clinical Key Specialty Construction Project CZ000037The Guangxi Key Research and Development Program No: Guike AB24010269
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveConventional free flaps for tongue reconstruction often result in adhesion and limited mobility. This study presents a case series of two patients evaluating a novel reinnervated free gracilis flap with a basal curtain barrier design.

methodsTwo patients with cT3N0M0 tongue squamous cell carcinoma underwent hemiglossectomy. Case 1 was reconstructed using the novel technique (gracilis muscle with a skin island barrier), while Case 2 was reconstructed with a standard reinnervated gracilis muscle flap without a skin island.

resultsIn Case 1, the skin island effectively closed the floor-of-mouth defect, creating a barrier that prevented muscle-to-mucosa adhesion. Compared to Case 2, Case 1 demonstrated significantly superior tongue mobility, higher swallowing efficiency, and clearer speech intelligibility.

conclusionThe basal curtain barrier design effectively prevents tethering of the reconstructed tongue to the floor of the mouth. It offers superior functional freedom and rehabilitation outcomes for hemiglossectomy defects compared to sole muscle flaps.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, Squamous CellFree Tissue FlapsGracilis MusclePlastic Surgery ProceduresTongueTongue NeoplasmsAgedFemaleGlossectomyHumansMaleMiddle AgedBasal curtain barrierCase reportFunctional recoveryReinnervated free gracilis flapTongue cancerTongue reconstruction

Identifiers

PMID41888745
PMCPMC13141419

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.