Postoperative scarring in the floor of the mouth (FOM) after tumor resection and reconstruction can reduce tongue mobility. To restore mobility, the tongue often has to be surgically detached. However, functional limitations often recur because of new scar formation.

A modified incision technique resulting in a tongue-pedicled flap was evaluated in patients with reduced tongue mobility due to scar adhesions following tumor resection of the floor of mouth and tongue. All patients underwent surgical detachment of the tongue 12–24 months after tumor resection. Tongue mobility was assessed before detachment and 6–12 months after detachment using the ‘motion of tongue’ section of the Korean Speech Mechanism Screening Test. Subjective tongue restriction was assessed using the Tongue Restriction Questionnaire.

At 6–12 months postoperatively, tongue mobility improved compared with the preoperative assessment, with the mean tongue mobility score (TMS) decreasing from 11 to 7 and the mean tongue restriction score (TRS) from 9.3 to 7. Most patients additionally reported subjective improvement in tongue mobility during the follow-up period.

This modified incision technique may reduce recurrent functional limitations and improve tongue mobility and prosthetic rehabilitation in patients with tongue restrictions following tumor resection of the floor of mouth and tongue.