title: Cancers of the tongue and floor of mouth: five-year file audit within the acute phase.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The impact of patient, surgical, and rehabilitation factors on speech and swallowing in the acute phase for patients following tongue and/or floor of mouth cancer surgery has not been reported to date. This study reviewed functional outcomes over a 5-year period at an Australian tertiary hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient medical files from July 2006 through 2011 were audited. Patient demographics, tumor and treatment, along with speech-language pathology (SLP) intervention details were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Speech and swallow function were significantly different between those with primary closure and those requiring reconstruction, with significantly higher referral rate to SLP following reconstruction. The clinical speech and swallow function at SLP assessment following reconstruction was a predictor for the number of SLP intervention sessions provided. The number of intervention sessions provided to these patients significantly correlated with upgrade in fluids during hospitalization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first published study to report a relationship between function and dosage of clinical SLP intervention with this population. It is also the first known study to audit comprehensive functional outcomes in the acute phase of recovery with an Australian cohort. The findings contribute to establishing evidence-based SLP practice with this population.
authors.forename: Katrina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Blyth
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heard
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Madill
authors.forename: Kirrie J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ballard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D009060:Mouth Floor / Q000601:surgery*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome