Immediate Gore-Tex sling suspension for management of facial paralysis in head and neck extirpative surgery.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to evaluate the functional and aesthetic outcomes of immediate facial reconstruction with a Gore-Tex (expanded polytetrofluoroethylene) sling in irradiated patients undergoing large head and neck tumor extirpation with facial nerve resection.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective study of 17 patients at two academic institutions who underwent extirpative surgery with immediate Gore-Tex sling reconstruction and completed radiotherapy. Functional and aesthetic results were evaluated at three intervals.


RESULTS
All patients had excellent immediate results and good or excellent intermediate-term results. At long-term follow-up, results were good to excellent in 47% and unacceptable in 35% of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
In irradiated patients undergoing total parotidectomy with immediate facial reconstruction using Gore-Tex slings, early results are excellent, but there is a high incidence of major wound complications and unacceptable results in long-term follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a high rate of late complications associated with immediate facial reconstruction with Gore-Tex slings in irradiated patients.
Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
Mia E
ME
Skourtis
Stephen M
SM
Weber
J David
JD
Kriet
Douglas A
DA
Girod
Terance T
TT
Tsue
Mark K
MK
Wax
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene