Tongue Microsurgical Reconstruction in Patients With Oral Cancer. Functional Outcomes

The study objective – to evaluate the feasibility of correcting eating disorders in patients undergoing surgery for oral and oropharyngeal cancers using various reconstructive techniques to restore postoperative defects.Materials and methods. Between 2012 and 2019, a total of 56 patients with stage II–IV oral and oropharyngeal cancer underwent reconstructive surgery after either hemiglossectomy or glossectomy. The patients ranged in age from 26 to 70 years. The patients were divided into two groups. Group I consisted of 36 (64.3 %) patients who underwent tongue reconstruction using rotation flaps. For reconstruction of hemiglossectomy defects, a chin flap was used, and for reconstruction of glossectomy defects, a pectoral flap was used. Group II comprised 20 (35.7 %) patients who underwent tongue reconstruction using free revascularized flaps. For the tongue reconstruction after hemiglossectomy, the radial flap, medial sural perforator flap and fasciocutaneous anterolateral thigh flap were used. For the tongue reconstruction after glossectomy, the fasciocutaneous anterolateral thigh flap was used. The acts of chewing and swallowing were restored during speech rehabilitation due to the activation and coordination of the work of the muscles of the cheeks, lips, soft palate, pharynx, and the reconstructed tongue. Eating disorders were assessed by interviewing patients. A comparative analysis of eating disorders included mobility and coordination of facial muscles and reconstructed tongue, increased sensitive in the oral cavity, the presence of aspiration and nasal regurgitation, and subjective difficulties of patients. The time before the start of rehabilitation and its duration were taken into account. Patients were interviewed before the start of the combined treatment, at the beginning and after the completion of rehabilitation.Results. After the completion of rehabilitation, all patients received food by the oral route. The best outcomes were achieved in group 2a patients, who underwent tongue reconstruction with free revascularized flaps. This group of patients had a lower percentage of the asymmetry of facial muscles and limited mobility of the tongue compared to other groups of patients.In the subgroups of patients undergoing glosssectomy, most of the studied parameters did not have statistically significant differences in values. However, it should be noted that in group 2b, the period from the date of surgical treatment to the beginning of rehabilitation was significantly longer than in group 1b.Conclusion. The use of the microvascular surgical techniques using various donor flaps creates the basis for a more complete functional recovery and expands the rehabilitation potential of patients after surgical treatment of oral and oropharyngeal cancer.

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Speech Rehabilitation of Patients With Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancers After Reconstructive Surgery

Красавина

Choynzonov

Kulbakin

et al. 2020

Sib. onkol. ž.

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Oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers usually require extensive surgeries accompanied by damages to anatomical structures and impaired speech function. The use of reconstructive-plastic techniques to replace defects after surgical resection allows the creation of a favorable functional basis for speech restoration.The purpose of the study was to compare the effectiveness and terms of speech restoration in patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers after surgical treatment using various reconstructive surgery techniques to restore postoperative defects.Material and Methods. Speech rehabilitation results were analyzed in 56 patients with stage II–IV oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers. The age of the patients ranged from 26 to 70 years. The patients underwent either hemiglossectomy or glossectomy followed by reconstructive surgery. Postoperative speech rehabilitation was performed according to the technique developed in the Department of Head and Neck Tumors of the Cancer Research Institute. Speech function was assessed before starting treatment, at the beginning of treatment and after completion of speech rehabilitation.Results. After surgery, all patients demonstrated impaired speech function, ranging from distorted pronunciation to the complete absence of verbal communication for 5 (71.4%) and 4 (80%) patients from Ib and IIb respectively. Speech rehabilitation started 16 to 32 days after surgery. Restoration of the activity and coordination of the articulatory apparatus muscles, speech exhalation and reconstructed tongue was followed by a sound pronunciation. Postoperative speech rehabilitation allowed improvement of speech function in 100 % of cases (56 patients). A complete speech restoration was achieved for 7 patients (12.5%). The majority of these patients were from the group with hemiglossectomy. In the group of patients with glossectomy, the amplitude and coordination of movements, which could be achieved by performing articulation exercises for the reconstructed tongue, depended on the size of the remaining part of their own tissues.Conclusion. Good values of all studied parameters were observed in patients, who underwent hemiglossectomy followed by reconstruction with a free revascularized flap. No statistically significant differences between the studied parameters were found in patients, who underwent glossectomy. Speech restoration parameters were significantly better in the group of patients with hemiglossectomy and reconstruction with a free revascularized flap than in the group of patients with glossectomy).

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Tongue Microsurgical Reconstruction in Patients With Oral Cancer. Functional Outcomes

Cited by 4 publications

References 12 publications

Functional tongue and floor of mouth reconstruction with a chimeric flap after total glossectomy

Functional tongue and floor of mouth reconstruction with a chimeric flap after total glossectomy

Correction of eating disorders in patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer after reconstructive plastic surgery

Speech Rehabilitation of Patients With Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Cancers After Reconstructive Surgery

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