Functional evaluation of mandibular reconstruction with bone free flap. A GETTEC study

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Oncology

Background:

• Oromandibular reconstruction is crucial for restoring function after cancer resection.
• Free bone flap reconstruction is a common technique, but functional outcomes require detailed assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the functional outcomes of oromandibular reconstruction using free bone flaps.
• To assess swallowing, speech, and esthetic results in a large patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter study analyzed 134 patients undergoing free bone flap reconstruction.
• Data collected via standardized questionnaires included feeding status, speech intelligibility, and esthetic satisfaction.
• Uni/multivariate analyses explored factors influencing functional outcomes.

Main Results:

• 97% of patients achieved oral feeding, and 89% had intelligible speech.
• 86% reported good to average esthetic outcomes.
• Radiation therapy and extensive lingual resection negatively impacted swallowing and increased gastrostomy dependence.

Conclusions:

• Free bone flap reconstruction effectively restores oral feeding and improves speech and esthetics.
• Low rates of dental rehabilitation and high complication rates necessitate further research and technique refinement.