Abstract: Aims: The aim of our study was to evaluate by questionnaire the HRQOL who have had mandibular resection of oral cancers and reconstruction with either free fibular flap or PMMC.
Settings and Design: Retrospective study
Methods and Material: The study was done in a tertiary care hospital over a period of 2years. Adult and consenting patients who had underwent lateral segmental mandibulectomy with successful reconstruction were included.
Statistical analysis: Information from the data was correlated against the socio-demographic and treatment variables using the Mann Whitney U test. Data were recorded and then analysed & P<0.05 were accepted as significant.
Results: Of total 60 patients, Quality of life UW-QOL scores for 12 disease-specific domains show no significant differences between the average scores of the two groups for the shoulder, taste, saliva, mood and anxiety domains. However, there were significant differences between the Free fibula graft and PMMF and groups for the pain, appearance, activity, recreation, swallowing, chewingand speech domains.
Conclusions: The composite QOL score and global QOL were more in patients with free fibula graft compared to patients who received PMMC implying better overall results with free fibula graft. Therefore, we emphasize that free fibula flap remains the preferred option for reconstruction of segmental defects in patients undergoing arch preserving mandibulectomy.
