title: Functional and sensitive outcomes after tongue reconstruction: about a series of 30 patients.
abstract: Few studies reported both functional and sensitive long-term evaluations after tongue reconstruction. The aim of this study was to assess functional outcomes and sensitive recovery after tongue reconstruction with fasciocutaneous free flap (FCFF) or musculocutaneous pedicled flap (MCPF) without nerve anastomosis. We enrolled 30 patients having no recurrence from a consecutive series of 79 tongue reconstructions as part of a cancer treatment. All patients were submitted to functional and sensitive tests. The functional study included intelligibility, tongue motility, food, and swallowing scores. Flap sensibility was evaluated too. Male-to-female sex ratio was 6.5 with a mean age of 52 years old. The lesions were mainly advanced (T3-T4 73%). Mobile tongue and base of tongue resection was carried out in 43% of cases, and resection was limited to the oral tongue for 53%. Twenty-one FCFF and nine MCPF were performed. The mean follow-up was 2 years and 11 months. Swallowing (slightly impaired 63%), food (normal 40%), and intelligibility (excellent 77%) assessments were satisfactory. Spontaneous sensory recovery was regularly observed (mean response 62%). The two groups FCFF and MCPF were similar regarding population and tumors characteristics. Functional results were higher in case of FCFF (food score p=0.05; intelligibility p=0.04). No difference was observed on sensitive recovery. This study emphasizes good functional results either for swallowing or intelligibility, with higher scores for the FCFF, strengthening the opinion that FCFF is the best choice for tongue reconstruction whenever possible.
authors.affiliation: Head and Neck Department, Centre Oscar Lambret, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Celia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guerin-Lebailly
authors.forename: Yann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mallet
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lambour
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Bedoui
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ton Van
authors.forename: Jean Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lefebvre
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013065:Speech Intelligibility / Q000502:physiology; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014059:Tongue / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome