Surgeons’ Awareness of the Considerations for Prosthetic Rehabilitation in Maxillectomy Patients

Abstract

Prosthetic rehabilitation of maxillectomy defects demands a multidisciplinary team approach. This study aims to investigate surgeons’ awareness of considerations for postoperative maxillofacial prosthetic treatment in maxillectomy patients. A questionnaire with 28 closed-ended and multiple-choice questions was distributed to surgeons in the oral and maxillofacial surgery department and head and neck surgery department of Tokyo Medical and Dental University （TMDU）. Thirty-five of the 50 distributed questionnaires were completed, for a response rate of 70%. Of the respondents, 48% were oral and maxillofacial surgeons and 52% were head and neck surgeons. More than half of oral and maxillofacial surgeons （53%） had performed maxillectomy, compared with 39% of head and neck surgeons. Of the head and neck surgeons, 17% had performed surgical reconstruction, compared with none of the oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Most respondents had given some consideration to prosthetic rehabilitation. The proportion of head and neck surgeons who consistently considered prosthetic rehabilitation before and after maxillectomy （22%） was considerably smaller than that of oral and maxillofacial surgeons （47%）. Prosthetic treatment was performed at the clinic for maxillofacial prosthetics by referring the patients from 63% of the respondents. Awareness of prosthetic rehabilitation of maxillectomy should be improved among surgeons to promote the provision of postsurgical defects that are well suited for prosthesis fit, function, and aesthetics.