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A Postoperative Evaluation Guideline for Computer-Assisted Reconstruction of the Mandible
Published on: January 28, 2020
Nasalance in patients with maxillary defects - Reconstruction versus obturation
André Eckardt1, Thomas Teltzrow, Andrea Schulze
1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. eckardt.andre@mh-hannover.de
Summary
Maxillectomy patients can achieve normal speech quality with either obturator prostheses or surgical reconstruction. Nasalance measurements indicate successful oronasal closure in both groups, comparable to healthy individuals.
Area of Science:
- Speech pathology
- Maxillofacial surgery
- Prosthodontics
Background:
- Maxillectomy significantly impacts speech quality by altering oral and nasal spaces.
- Effective oronasal closure is crucial for speech rehabilitation post-maxillectomy.
- Nasalance serves as an objective measure for assessing oronasal function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effectiveness of obturator prostheses versus biological reconstruction in achieving adequate oronasal closure after maxillectomy.
- To evaluate speech quality outcomes using objective nasalance measurements.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 28 patients who underwent maxillectomy between 1990-2000 were assessed.
- Ten patients used obturator prostheses (Group 1), and 18 had biological reconstruction (Group 2).
- Nasalance was measured using the NasalView system with standardized German texts.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in nasalance were found between the obturator and biological reconstruction groups.
- Achieved nasalance values in both patient groups were comparable to those of healthy individuals.
Conclusions:
- Both obturator prostheses and biological reconstruction can lead to successful oronasal closure after maxillectomy.
- Sufficient rehabilitation strategies can restore normal speech quality, as indicated by nasalance levels.