The tongue has a special physiological function, and tongue defect reconstruction is a challenge for maxillofacial surgery. To date, tongue defect repair has developed from morphology and volume recovery to reconstruction of dynamic functions. Tongue defect reconstruction is widely recognized, frequently studied, and partly understood. This study summarizes research progress on surgical flaps, allotransplantation, and tissue-engineered materials for reconstructing tongue defects. It also discusses function evaluation after repair and functional muscle transfer for tongue reconstruction.
