Assessment of Quality of Life in Thirty-seven Cases of Tongue Cancer Defect Patients with Reconstructed with Radial Free Forearm Flap

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical impact on the quality of life in 37 cases of patients who had resections of tongue cancer and reconstruction with a Radial Forearm Free Flap (RFFF). QOL was assessed by FACT-H&N and UW-QOL questionnaires prior to surgical treatment (Group 1) and twelve months postoperatively (Group 2). Thirty-seven of the forty-five questionnaires (82.2%) were returned. Tongue cancer impact QOL on patients’ physical, functional, social, and emotional well-being (PWB, SWB, EWB and FWB, respectively) were evaluated using the FACT-H&N questionnaire. Pain, followed by taste and saliva, were considered the most important factors by patients in both groups. In the UW-QOL, mood and shoulder were rated highest in Group 1, compared to pain and anxiety in Group 2. Despite some functional impairment, QOL was preserved after RFFF reconstruction following ablative surgery in patients with tongue cancer. RFFF for reconstruction of defects of tongue significantly influenced QOL.