Exclusion of Musculature from the Submental Flap: A Contingency Plan for Facial Nerve Palsy

SUMMARY: Submental flap surgery is a useful and versatile reconstructive procedure. Currently, disagreement exists regarding the need to include the anterior belly of the digastric muscle or mylohyoid in the submental flap. The report outlines the value of excluding normal and variant anterior digastric and mylohyoid musculature from the submental flap as a contingency plan for marginal mandibular branch of facial nerve palsy. Also, the article addresses variant anterior digastric musculature, a common anatomical finding, as it relates to the submental flap. The question of whether or not to include the anterior digastric musculature does not necessitate an all-or-none decision. In the case of multiple anterior digastric bellies, some bellies may be included in the flap, whereas others are not. The location of the submental vessels and the desired bulk or contour of the flap should guide the decision of which anterior digastric bellies, if any, are included in the flap.