The evolution of head and neck reconstruction

Abstract

Like most areas of plastic surgery, head and neck reconstruction has evolved considerably over the past half century, incorporating new techniques and innovations. Inmany parts of the world it has become part of the specialty of head and neck surgery, which itself evolved from general surgery, plastic surgery and otolaryngology, such that it is no longer thought of as part of plastic surgery alone. This discipline now includes new techniques, new flaps and new approaches. In addition, we have seen the blending of hitherto unrelated subspecialties, so that microsurgery and craniofacial surgery are now often practiced by a new breed of practitioners who are trained in both techniques. We have also seen a blending of resection and reconstruction, often by the same surgeon, which though it may seem like a new approach, is how it was done originally. The sheer scope of the subject prevents this paper from being exhaustive, so we attempt to give a broad overview of the changes and to give some background on how and why these advances happened. Such an overview is considered timely and useful for an early issue of this journal. Key references are cited to provide further reading.