Outcome in patients with partial and full-thickness cheek defects
following free flap reconstruction -- A multicentric analysis of 47
cases
Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate whether the extent of tumor resection
and free flap reconstruction influences functional outcome and
complications in patients with solid malignancies of the cheek.
Design and Participants: We retrospectively assessed recipient
site complications and functional outcomes in 47 patients with solid
malignancies of the cheek who underwent either partial (n=30; 63.8%) or
full-thickness (n=17; 36.2%) cheek resection with free flap
reconstruction. Setting: Retrospective, multicentric analysis
Results: Full thickness resections with creation of
through-and-through defects were not associated with significantly
higher complication rates (70.6% vs. 46.7%; p=0.138) compared to
partial defects. Recipient site complications occurred in 55.3% of
patients and were noticed most likely after reconstruction of suborbital
defects (69.2%; p=0.268) of which occurrence of salivary fistulae was
the most common (46.2%; p=0.035). Similarly, functional outcomes
including oral incompetence, ectropion, and trismus were not affected by
the extent of resection (p=0.766). However, oral incompetence was higher
in patients with tumors originating from oral cavity (p=0.020) and after
the performance of mandibulectomy (p=0.003). Conclusions: There
was no difference in functional outcome or recipient site morbidity
between tumor resections resulting in full-thickness and partial
defects.