Evaluation of taste sensation following tongue reconstruction by microvascular forearm free flap.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to examine the restoration process of taste perception in patients after reconstruction of the tongue using microvascular forearm flaps.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twelve patients, aged 28 to 70 years with a mean of 59.6 years consisting of 9 men and 3 women, were enrolled in this study. Examination results based on the filter paper disk and whole mouth methods were evaluated on a 6-point rating scale.

RESULTS: In none of the patients was it possible to detect any perception of the test tastes in the regions under the control of the chorda tympani and glossopharyngeal nerves on the reconstructed side, indicating a "nondetectable" grade 6 result. The evaluation results for the normal tongue region under the control of the chorda tympani in the patients after tongue reconstruction showed a mean grade of 4.7 for the sweet, 4.9 for the salty, 4.6 for the sour, and 4.4 for the bitter taste. Mean grade determined by the whole mouth method was 3.6 for sweet, 3.3 for salty, 3.0 for sour, and 3.6 for bitter.

CONCLUSION: No taste perception was detected in the regions of the tongue reconstructed with forearm flaps. These results led us to assume that compensatory taste perception must occur in other regions of the oral cavity because none of our postsurgery patients showed any serious taste disorder.