Quality of Life after Free Fibula Flap Reconstruction of Segmental Mandibular Defects.

BACKGROUND: Free fibula flap (FFF) is considered gold standard in the reconstruction of mandibular defects. Despite the frequent use, patients' quality of life (QoL) after reconstruction has been sparsely investigated. This study aims to evaluate QoL and outcomes in patients who have undergone FFF reconstruction of segmental mandibular defects. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients (n = 73) operated at a single center during the years 2000 to 2014 was performed. Charts were reviewed and all living patients (n = 41) were invited to fill out three quality of life questionnaires (QLQ): SF-36, EORTC QLQ-C30, and QLQ-H&N35. Factors associated with poor outcome were derived from regression models and the results of the QLQs were compared with Swedish reference populations. Subgroup analysis was performed for two groups depending on reconstructive indication: cancer and osteoradionecrosis (ORN). RESULTS: The response rate of the QLQs was 93%. General QoL did not differ from reference populations, but the study group had significantly larger proportions of poor functioning patients in three domains in EORTC QLQ-C30: global health status, role functioning, and social functioning. Patients also reported a high incidence of poor functioning/high symptom burden in EORTC QLQ-H&N35, with a significantly higher frequency in the ORN group compared with the cancer group for the domains "swallowing" and "social eating." The overall flap success rate was 92% and complication rate was 48%. Previous surgery had a significant association with reoperation due to bleeding, and longer duration of surgery was significantly associated with local infection. CONCLUSION: When evaluated with validated QLQs, most patients experienced persistent functional loss in one or several domains, but still perceived a general QoL that is close to that of reference populations. Patients having ORN as the indication for surgery, as compared with cancer, reported a higher frequency of poor functioning patients in disease-specific QoL domains.

Quality of life after management of advanced osteoradionecrosis of the mandible.

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the mandible is a severe complication of radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. In this case series, the authors analyzed their treatment and quality of life outcomes over the past 6 years. A retrospective chart review of 42 patients treated surgically for advanced ORN was conducted. A telephone survey was conducted and quality of life (QOL) questionnaires were completed in a subset of patients. 30 patients responded to the telephone survey assessing QOL for speech, swallowing and overall functioning correlated with oral nutrition and performance status. Surgery for ORN can result in an improved QOL. Functional outcomes of oral intake, speech intelligibility, and eating in public correlated with patient rated QOL measures. A lack of improvement in QOL, despite the restoration of an intact mandible, relates to the persistent effects of chemoradiotherapy.

Effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on quality of life in maxillofacial patients with type III osteoradionecrosis.

PURPOSE: Over a 4-year period, 18 patients with type III osteoradionecrosis that developed an average of 55 months after radiotherapy treatment for head and neck cancers were referred for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO(2)). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants completed a questionnaire battery before and after HBO(2), including the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Core 30, the EORTC Head and Neck 35, and the Medical Outcomes Short Form 36. RESULTS: The EORTC Core 30 questionnaire indicated significant improvements in "emotional functioning" and "insomnia" (P ≤ .01 and P ≤ .01). An improvement also was found in the "social eating" (P ≤ .01) and "teeth" (P ≤ .01) domains of the EORTC Head and Neck 35 questionnaire. These beneficial outcomes might be explained in part by the social environment of being in a specific treatment group with similar patients. However, the Medical Outcomes Short Form 36 indicated a significant decrease in "social functioning" (P ≤ .01). The patient group in this study did not undergo any surgical intervention between the 2 time points and no other interventions could be connected with the improvements, particularly in relation to "teeth." In addition, clinical follow-up confirmed the stabilization of the patients' clinical conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study support the hypothesis that HBO(2) has positive physiologic and psychological effects on some factors for this patient group.

Quality of life in osteoradionecrosis patients after mandible primary reconstruction with free fibula flap.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the quality-of-life outcomes in osteoradionecrosis patients undergoing primary mandible reconstruction with free fibula flap, and to analyze the association between quality of life and demographic and medical characteristics of osteoradionecrosis patients. STUDY DESIGN: Quality-of-life outcomes of 15 patients after primary mandible reconstruction with free fibula flap for osteoradionecrosis were assessed using a modified University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire, version 4. RESULTS: The best-scoring domain was pain, whereas the lowest scores occurred in chewing, swallowing, speech, and saliva. More than 70% of patients perceived improved health-related quality of life after reconstruction. Men scored significantly higher than women in speech domain, recreation domain, activity domain, and "social function." The time elapsed from radiotherapy was significantly and negatively correlated with the score of speech, recreation, and global question. CONCLUSION: Mandible reconstruction with fibula flap effectively eliminates pain and controls local infection even though radiotherapy-induced complications still influence the quality of life of osteoradionecrosis patients.

'If we get too close to your bones they'll go brittle': women's initial fears about radiotherapy for early breast cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Radiotherapy is a common treatment for breast cancer. However, previous studies have shown that women who present for radiotherapy fear its use and associated side effects. The aims of this study were to develop further understanding of breast cancer patients' fears of radiotherapy, ascertain how patients deal with these fears and determine the best time in the treatment planning trajectory for health professionals to address these concerns. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with early breast cancer patients at four time points during their experiences of radiotherapy. Grounded theory was used to analyse the data. Symbolic interactionism informed data interpretation. RESULTS: Thirty-four participants were interviewed. The two main themes that emerged prior to treatment commencement were 'fears about receiving radiotherapy' and 'ways of coping with the fear of radiotherapy'. Sub-themes that emerged as components of the theme 'fears about receiving radiotherapy' were: 'fearing the unknown', 'getting burnt', 'damaging internal parts' and 'anticipating tiredness'. Patients were able to cope with their fears by trying not to worry about their fears and by seeking information. Many patients found that their fears about radiotherapy were much worse than their actual experiences of receiving treatment and the side effects they experienced. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: In discussing radiotherapy with patients, health professionals have a window of opportunity at the planning appointment, prior to the commencement of radiotherapy, to assess patients' understanding and concerns about radiotherapy, listen to their fears, address meanings they assign to radiotherapy and provide reassurance about radiotherapy and the management of side effects.