Functional outcomes after hemiglossectomy and reconstruction with a bilobed radial forearm free flap

• Published in: Journal of otolaryngology Vol. 33; no. 6; p. 356
• Main Authors: Uwiera, Trina, Seikaly, Hadi, Rieger, Jana, Chau, Jason, Harris, Jeffery R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada 01.12.2004
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - radiotherapy; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - surgery; Cohort Studies; Deglutition Disorders - diagnosis; Deglutition Disorders - epidemiology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Forearm - surgery; Glossectomy - methods; Humans; Language Tests; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal - transplantation; Neoplasm Staging; Postoperative Care; Preoperative Care; Prospective Studies; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures - methods; Recovery of Function; Speech Intelligibility; Surgical Flaps; Tongue Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Tongue Neoplasms - surgery
• ISSN: 0381-6605
• DOI: 10.2310/7070.2004.00356

This study examines prospectively the functional outcomes of a cohort of patients who had undergone hemiglossectomy and reconstruction with a bilobed radial forearm free flap (RFFF) for oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Speech and swallowing data were compiled for patients treated for oral tongue cancer with hemiglossectomy and and reconstruction with a bilobed RFFF. The three evaluation periods were preoperative, postoperatively, and postradiation therapy. Eleven patients were included in the study. A significant difference between preoperative and postoperative single-word intelligibility scores was observed. There was no significant difference across any of the evaluation times for sentence intelligibility. Swallowing analysis revealed fewer instances of laryngeal penetration with liquids postoperatively. No significant differences were found in laryngeal penetration with either the pudding or cookie consistencies across any of the evaluation times. There was no incidence of aspiration at any of the evaluation times. There were no significant differences in the number of problems with the oral or oral preparatory phases across any of the evaluation times. The neurotization status of the RFFF had no significant effect on any of the observed speech or swallowing parameters. The bilobed RFFF provides functional speech and excellent swallowing outcomes in the reconstruction of hemiglossectomy defects.