title: Free radial forearm flap reconstruction in surgery of the oral cavity and pharynx: surgical complications, impairment of speech and swallowing.
abstract: The first 100 consecutive free radial forearm flaps used in reconstruction for oral and pharyngeal cancer were investigated. Seven re-operations took place due to circulatory impairment of the flap. Two flaps underwent partial, and four total necrosis, one of those patients died of massive haemorrhage. Post-operative infection was significantly correlated to increased time between the last radiotherapy session and surgery. All but eight patients had post-operative impairment of swallowing and all but five patients had impairment of speech articulation or hypernasality. Post-operative time spent in hospital was a range of 12-122 days (mean 37 days). The 2-year survival rate was 70% and the 5-year survival rate was 45%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Jaw Disease, Karolinska Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: I K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Bodin
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lind
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arnander
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D009336:Necrosis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000473:pathology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D015996:Survival Rate