title: Multiple-parameter evaluation demonstrates low donor-site morbidity after submental flap harvesting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to implement a scoring system to analyze the authors' experience of donor-site morbidity after harvesting a submental flap for the reconstruction of surgical defects at the head and neck region after oncologic resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective case series study was conducted of patients who underwent reconstruction with a submental flap at the Tri-Service General Hospital (Taipei, Taiwan) from 2008 through 2012. Five parameters representing donor-site morbidity (whistling, smiling, neck extension, beard change, and esthetic outcome) were evaluated with a scoring system developed by a blinded panel of 2 clinicians and the patients. Scores were analyzed and compared between patient subgroups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two patients (20 men and 2 women; mean age, 56 yr) underwent reconstruction with a submental flap after head and neck tumor ablation. Primary lesion sites included the oral cavity (13 patients), pharynx (6 patients), larynx (1 patient), neck (1 patient), and sinus (1 patient). The means of all 5 parameters evaluated were higher than 8 on a scale of 0 to 9 (whistling, 8.7; smiling, 8.7; beard change, 8.9; neck extension, 8.2; esthetic outcome, 8.2), showing that submental flap harvesting led to low donor-site morbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Donor-site morbidity after submental flap harvesting was evaluated with a scoring system measuring 5 parameters, namely whistling, smiling, beard change, neck extension, and esthetic outcome. In general, donor-site morbidity was very low. This implemented system and these findings will be helpful in future reconstructive surgical planning and management.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: doc30450@gmail.com.
authors: Jih-Chin
authors: JC
authors: Lee
authors: Wen-Sen
authors: WS
authors: Lai
authors: Chuan-Hsiang
authors: CH
authors: Kao
authors: Chiang-Hung
authors: CH
authors: Hsu
authors: Yueng-Hsiang
authors: YH
authors: Chu
authors: Yaoh-Shiang
authors: YS
authors: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006197:Hair / Q000473:pathology; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D009333:Neck / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000601:surgery / Q000637:transplantation; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D063346:Singing / Q000502:physiology; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D012904:Smiling / Q000502:physiology; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000637:transplantation*; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*; D060053:Transplant Donor Site / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery