Modified Preauricular Cervico-facial Approach for Oral Cancers: an Analysis of Oncological and Functional Outcomes

The quest for a more cosmetic and functionally better approach to oral cancer continues unabated. The modified facelift and preauricular approaches have been a common approach in trauma and cosmetic surgery. In the current study, we evaluate the feasibility and functional outcomes of a preauricular cervico-facial approach for compartmental resection of complex gingiva-buccal complex tumours with concurrent neck dissection. This was a prospective single-centre study and recruited patients of biopsy-proven operable advanced oral cavity tumours. These patients underwent compartmental tumour resections with neck dissection using the modified preauricular approach. Patients were followed up and advised adjuvant treatment when mandated. At 3^rd month and 6^th month follow-up, QoL was assessed using the self-administered University of Washington Quality of Life scale (UW-QOL). A total of 20 patients met the inclusion criteria and were recruited for the approach. All patients had surgically clear margins on histopathological analysis. Oral swallow was initiated on the 10^th postoperative day and the average duration of nasogastric tube dependence was 13 days. All patients had reasonably good oral commissure competence and none had drooling of saliva at 6^th month follow-up. Modified preauricular cervico-facial approach to locally advanced gingiva-buccal complex tumours is a safe and holds the possibility of a functionally superior approach.