Functional Benefit after Modification of Radial Forearm Free Flap for Soft Palate Reconstruction.
- Author:
Jin Hwan KIM
1
;
Hyung Ro CHU
;
Jeong Min KANG
;
Woo Jin BAE
;
So Jung OH
;
Young Soo RHO
;
Hwoe Young AHN
;
Chul Hoon JUNG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Radial forearm free flap; Reconstruction; Oropharyngeal cancer; Soft palate
- MeSH: Deglutition; Forearm; Free Tissue Flaps; Humans; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms; Palate, Soft; Retrospective Studies; Speech Intelligibility
- From:Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology 2008;1(3):161-165
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To compare the velopharyngeal function, swallowing and speech of the conventional and modified radial forearm free flap (RFFF) for soft palate reconstruction. METHODS: Retrospective clinical study. Twenty-eight patients who underwent oropharyngeal reconstruction with RFFF were divided into two groups: 10 patients had conventional folded RFFF and 18 patients underwent modified method. RESULTS: The average speech intelligibility score in modified RFFF group was 8.0+/-2.4, and 6.2+/-2.2 in conventional RFFF group (P<0.05). The nasalance was 27.4+/-7.8% in modified group and 38.6+/-2.7% in conventional group during no nasal passage reading and 43.6+/-7.3% in modified group, 55.2+/-7.6% in conventional group during high nasal passage reading (P<0.05). The subjective swallowing functional score was 2.8 in modified group and 2.1 in conventional group. CONCLUSION: The speech assessment and nasalance demonstrate a more favorable outcome in modified group than conventional group.
