Simultaneous Repair Of Large Soft Tissue Defects In Oropharyngeal Carcinoma With Free Skin Flap And Evaluation Of Oropharyngeal Function

Objective:The anterolateral thigh flap and the forearm flap are the two most widely used flaps in the repair and reconstruction of oropharyngeal defects.However,what is the orophary ngeal function after repair of the two flaps? Which flap is more suitable for the orophary nx? Partial defects are currently inconclusive.This study investigated the recovery of oro pharyngeal function after reconstruction of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with anterolateral thigh skin flap and forearm skin flap,and identified the factors influencing t he later function of the two kinds of flaps to repair oropharyngeal cancer defect,which is a clinical Application and postoperative oropharyngeal function rehabilitation training to provide reference.Methods:A retrospective study of 36 patients with oropharyngeal cancer who underwent rese ction of soft tissue defects and underwent repair of anterolateral thigh flap or forearm fla p from September 2016 to September 2020 in the Department of Stomatology,the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University,aged ≥60 There were 17 cases aged <60 years;19 males and 17 females;22 patients were repaired and reconstructed with forearm flaps,and 14 patients were repaired and reconstructed with anterolateral thigh flaps;compariso n of different parts and defects The effect of size and repair method on postoperative fun ction,and the patients’ swallowing,speech,velopharyngeal closure and other functions at six months after operation were evaluated.Results:1: The follow-up results showed that there was no statistical difference in the patient s’ swallowing,speech,velopharyngeal closure and other functions at the 6-month review after the two flap repairs(P>0.05).2: There was a statistical difference in the swallowing function after the repair of the tongue base defect and the soft palate defect flap and the swallowing function after the r epair of the pharyngeal lateral wall defect(P<0.05).However,there was no significant di fference in the velopharyngeal closure function and speech function after the repair of the three different defect flaps(P>0.05).3: There were statistical differences in speech swallowing,speech,and velopharyng eal closure of postoperative defects in different tumor stages(P<0.05).Conclusion:1: The speech,swallowing,and velopharyngeal closure functions of patients after re pairing oropharyngeal cancer defect with anterolateral thigh flap or forearm flap can achi eve good prognosis.2: The defects of tongue base and soft palate had a greater effect on swallowing func tion than those of lateral pharyngeal wall,but there was no significant difference between the three different parts of speech palatopharyngeal closure.3: The higher the T stage of the tumor,the larger the defect range,and the greater th e impact on the postoperative oropharyngeal function.