Intraoral versus transcervical approaches in mandibular reconstruction with free flaps: A retrospective study

This study aims to investigate the clinical and functional differences between intraoral and transcervical approaches for segmental mandible resection and reconstruction with free flaps. Patients diagnosed as benign and low-grade mandibular malignant tumors without neck dissections were retrospectively reviewed and divided into intraoral and transcervical groups. Patients of intraoral group underwent intraoral mandibulectomy and vascular anastomosis was performed through a 2-cm submandibular incision, while traditional submandibular approach was used in transcervical group. Clinical characteristics of two groups were assessed including body mass index (BMI), defect types and number of fibular segments, as well as perioperative variables such as operation time, blood loss, drainage volume. The score of appearance, swallowing and speech using the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire (UW-QOL) was recorded and analyzed 6-month postoperatively. A total of 14 patients in intraoral group and 21 patients in transcervical group was collected, respectively. In intraoral group, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative drainage volume were significantly reduced in comparison with transcervical group (p = 0.0146, p = 0.0017; respectively). The score of appearance was 87.50 ± 12.97 in intraoral group, which was significantly higher than 64.29 ± 12.68 in transcervical group (p < 0.0001). Similar results were found in patients of subtype Class II mandibular defect between two groups. However, patients of intraoral group had a significant increase in operative time and a comparable amount of intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.0472, p = 0.1434; respectively). Within the limitations of the study it seems that an intraoral approach combined with a 2-cm submandibular incision should be preferred over a transcervical approach for segmental mandibulectomy and free flap reconstruction whenever appropriate.