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Objectives/Hypothesis To determine the frequency and management of short‐ and long‐term complications related to oromandibular free flap reconstruction and identify potentially predictive factors of hardware complications. Study Design Retrospective chart review. Methods A retrospective database from chart review was formed consisting of 266 oromandibular free flap reconstructions performed at a single institution over a 15‐year period. Data were collected on demographics, surgical treatment, complications, and management of complications. Subgroup univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare patients with hardware complications and those without. Results Eighty‐one of 266 patients (30.5%) that underwent oromandibular reconstruction had an early complication (<4 weeks after surgery), and the most common complications were cervical wound dehiscence (11.3%) and fistulas (9.40%). Eighty of 266 patients (30.1%) had a long‐term complication (>4 weeks after surgery) and the most common complication was plate exposure (26.7%). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed no association between whether there was hardware extrusion and fibula versus scapula, smoking history, virtual surgical planning (VSP), and dental implantation (P > .05). Only early complications (OR, 3.59, 95% CI, 1.83–7.05, P < .01) and patients undergoing oromandibular reconstruction for osteoradionecrosis (OR, 2.26, 95% CI, 1.10–4.64, P = .03) were strongly and independently associated with subsequent hardware extrusion on univariate analysis. Conclusions Both short‐ and long‐term complications are common after oromandibular reconstruction. The most important predictive factor for a late complication is an early complication and prior radiation. There was no difference of plate complications among the various free flap types. Dental implantation and use of VSP were not associated with hardware complications. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 131:1997–2005, 2021

Background The effect of treatment modality on long‐term opioid dependence in patients with oropharyngeal cancer has not been reported. Methods A retrospective cohort of 122 patients with T1/T2 oropharyngeal cancer undergoing treatment was generated. Risk factors associated with chronic opioid use were investigated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results The prevalence of chronic opioid use was 45.9%. On multivariate analysis, primary nonsurgical treatment (odds ratio [OR] 4.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7‐11.4), pretreatment opioid use (OR 14.9, 95% CI: 3.5‐62.5), psychiatric disorder (OR 4.3, 95% CI: 1.03‐18.5), alcohol use (OR 2.6, 95% CI: 1.03‐6.5), and younger age (OR 1.1, 95% CI: 1.02‐1.11) were significantly associated with chronic opioid use. Conclusion Primary nonsurgical treatment, younger age, pretreatment opioid use, alcohol use, and psychiatric disorder were independently associated with an increased risk of chronic opioid use. Preventative strategies should be especially focused toward these patients to reduce their risk of long‐term opioid use.

Objective To investigate the relationship between treatment modality and chronic opioid use in a large cohort of patients with head and neck cancer. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Single academic center. Methods There were 388 patients with head and neck cancer treated between January 2011 and December 2017 who met inclusion criteria. Clinical risk factors for opioid use at 3 and 6 months were determined with univariate and multivariate analyses. Results The prevalence of opioid use was 43.0% at 3 months and 33.2% at 6 months. On multivariate analysis, primary chemoradiation (odds ratio [OR], 4.04; 95% CI, 1.91-8.55) and surgery with adjuvant chemoradiation (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.09-5.26) were associated with opioid use at 3 months. Additional risk factors at that time point included pretreatment opioid use (OR, 7.63; 95% CI, 4.09-14.21) and decreasing age (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.06). At 6 months, primary chemoradiation (OR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.34-4.28), pretreatment opioid use (OR, 5.86; 95% CI, 3.30-10.38), current tobacco use (OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.18-3.40), and psychiatric disorder (OR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.02-3.14) were associated with opioid use. Conclusion Of the patients who receive different treatment modalities, those receiving primary chemoradiation are independently at highest risk for chronic opioid use. Other risk factors include pretreatment opioid use, tobacco use, and a psychiatric disorder. In an effort to reduce their risk of chronic opioid use, preventative strategies should be especially directed to these patients.