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Subjective morbidity following fibular free flap reconstruction in head and neck cancer patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2018

D M Sparkman
Affiliation:
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
M R Simmons
Affiliation:
Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, University of Cincinnati Medical Center College of Medicine, Ohio, USA
Y J Patil*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati Medical Center College of Medicine, Ohio, USA
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Yash Patil, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, ML no. 0528, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA E-mail: yash.patil@uc.edu Fax: +1 513 558 5203

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the presence of subjective post-operative donor site morbidity after fibula free flap reconstruction in head and neck cancer patients, utilising three validated instruments: the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment questionnaire and the Lower Limb Core Scale.

Methods

In this retrospective study, all head and neck cancer patients who underwent fibula free flap reconstruction between January 2009 and July 2014 were identified. All questionnaires and their respective subcomponents were scored.

Results

Twenty-one cases were included. Patients were found to have a higher Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment bothersome index (22.42 vs 13.77, p = 0.03), a lower Short Form 36 Health Survey Physical Component Summary score (42.44 vs 50, p < 0.01) and a decreased Lower Limb Core Scale score (47.08 vs 90.52, p < 0.01), compared to US population norms. The Short Form 36 Health Survey Mental Component Summary scores and Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment function index failed to demonstrate significant differences. Gender affected overall disability.

Conclusion

In this study, significant long-term disability was demonstrated after fibular flap reconstruction, as measured by the Lower Limb Core Scale.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2018 

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Footnotes

Dr Y J Patil takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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