Quality of life in patients with cancer-related Brown IIb maxillary defect: A comparison between conventional obturation rehabilitation and submental flap reconstruction. (September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Li-Mei; Tian, Yuan-Yuan; Liu, Xiao-ming; Cao, Ye; Sui, Lei; Mao, Chi; Liu, Hao; Ye, Jia-Hui; Zhou, Yong-Sheng; Peng, Xin; Ye, Hong-Qiang; Yan, Ying-Bin
• Is Part Of: Oral oncology. Volume 132(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09
• Subjects: Maxilla -- Maxillectomy -- Palatal obturator -- Quality of life -- Surgical flaps -- Submental flap -- Reconstructive surgical procedures -- Oral cancer; Mouth -- Cancer -- Periodicals; Mouth -- Tumors -- Periodicals; Mouth Diseases -- Periodicals; Mouth Neoplasms -- Periodicals; Bouche -- Cancer -- Périodiques; Bouche -- Tumeurs -- Périodiques; Tumeurs -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 616.9943105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2022.105980
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-8375

Abstract

Highlights: This is the first report which confined the maxillary defect to a Brown subclass with the largest comparative series to date. The patient cohort is homogeneous as much as possible. The differences of QOL revealed in the study would provide useful information and help the clinicians to choose the more appropriate treatment. Abstract: Objectives: The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the differences in quality of life (QOL) outcomes between the conventional obturator prostheses (COP) and the pedicled submental artery island flap (SAIF) in the reconstruction of Brown IIb maxillary defects. Materials and methods: The QOL of 116 eligible patients who had a lapse ≥ 12 months after the cancer-related maxilla ablation was evaluated by the University of Washington quality of life scale (UW-QOL), Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck (PSS-HN), and Obturator Functioning Scale (OFS). Results: Patients in the SAIF group reported statistically and clinically significant higher overall QOL scores but lower chewing scores in the UW-QOL scale when compared with those in the COP group ( P < 0.05). Clinically significantly higher scores were also observed in the recreation and anxiety domains in the UW-QOL scale for the SAIF group, but there was no statistical significances. The COP group reported more complaints about the nasal leakage when swallowing and the shape of the upper lip, and had a stronger willingness to avoid family or social events in the OFS ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: For patients with Brown IIb defects, SAIF reconstruction can achieve reduced nasal leakage when swallowing, improved upper-lip contour, increased social activity, and superior overall QOL than COP. The inferior chewing function in the SAIF group indicated the need for dental rehabilitation with a conventional denture or osseointegrated implants.