Oral cavity reconstruction: an objective assessment of function

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Functional Outcomes Assessment

Background:

• Oral cavity reconstruction aims to restore function, a critical measure of success.
• Objective functional assessment is essential for evaluating reconstructive surgery outcomes.
• Existing methods may lack comprehensiveness for routine follow-ups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a comprehensive test series for objective functional assessment in oral cavity reconstruction.
• To evaluate the impact of mandibular resection and soft tissue excision on functional outcomes.
• To compare the effectiveness of different reconstructive modalities.

Main Methods:

• A unique, comprehensive test series was devised for routine functional assessment.
• Functional evaluation included general health, food intake, oral competence (water holding test - WHT), mastication, speech, swallowing, tongue mobility, and shoulder-neck function.
• Fifty post-surgery patients were compared with 10 healthy volunteers.

Main Results:

• The extent of mandibular resection and soft tissue excision significantly impacted overall functional scores.
• Oral competence, assessed by the water holding test (WHT), was uniformly impaired in all 50 patients.
• In dentate patients, bolus quality correlated well with other functional scores; the bi-paddled pectoralis major flap showed the best overall functional outcomes.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive functional assessment is crucial for evaluating oral cavity reconstruction success.
• Mandibular and soft tissue resection significantly influence functional recovery.
• The bi-paddled pectoralis major flap appears to be the most effective reconstructive method for optimizing functional outcomes.