Magnitude Of Radial Forearm Free Flaps And Factors Associated With Loss Of Volume In Oral Cancer Reconstructive Surgery

Background: This study aimed to use digital technology to evaluate changes in radial forearm free flap(RFFF)volumes after 1 year of follow-up following ablative tumor surgery in the head and neck,so as to improve the effect of surgical treatment and restoration of oral cancer patients.Methods: This study used a prospective cohort research method to record the perioperative clinical data of 20 patients with oral cancer who underwent RFFF repair at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Head and Neck Surgery,Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of China Medical University from January 2018 to December 2020.Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI)and Mimics Research 19.0 software were used to measure the RFFF volumes at 1,3,6,and 12 postoperative months.Use SPSS 23.0 software for data entry and statistical analysis.Results: Compared with one postoperative month,the RFFF volume decreased by 15.50%,29.35% and 41.95%.at 3,6,and 12 months,respectively,after surgery.Compared with patients who did not undergo postoperative radiotherapy,patients who received postoperative radiotherapy had a higher RFFF volume atrophy at 3 and 6 months after surgery(P<0.05).Age,sex,Body Mass Index(BMI),hypertension,diabetes,smoking status,drinking status,preoperative albumin quantity,flap ischemia time and other factors are not related to the volume change of RFFF(P>0.05).Conclusion: Within 1 year after surgery,the volume of RFFF decreases with time.When repairing oral cancer defects,it is recommended to use 40% overcorrection to compensate for the postoperative volume atrophy of RFFF.In the case of postoperative radiotherapy,it is recommended to further expand the RFFF volume.