Function and appearance following surgery for intraoral cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Surgical Reconstruction
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Background:

• Intraoral carcinoma surgery often leads to significant deformities and functional deficits.
• Historically, surgical focus has been on cosmetic restoration rather than functional outcomes.
• Dysfunction arises from altered oral cavity volume, palate defects, oropharyngeal closure issues, and laryngeal bypass disturbances.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the functional and cosmetic outcomes of surgical interventions for intraoral carcinoma.
• To determine the efficacy of current surgical practices in restoring patient function and societal roles.
• To provide recommendations regarding further reconstructive procedures after primary cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• Review of surgical outcomes for patients undergoing lateral mandibulectomy and radical neck dissection for intraoral cancers.
• Assessment of functional parameters including speech, eating, and swallowing.
• Analysis of cosmetic results and overall patient well-being and societal reintegration.

Main Results:

• Lateral mandibulectomy and radical neck dissection for specific intraoral cancers typically yield acceptable cosmetic and functional results.
• Patients generally experience good speech, eating, and swallowing capabilities post-surgery.
• Further surgical attempts to correct residual deficiencies are discouraged due to limited benefit.

Conclusions:

• Current surgical approaches for selected intraoral carcinomas provide satisfactory functional and cosmetic outcomes.
• Emphasis on functional restoration is key to successful patient rehabilitation.
• Bone grafting or prosthetic replacement for resected mandibles is not recommended after these procedures.