eJOURNAL OF ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL RESEARCH

Archives

2010 Jul-Sep; Vol 1, No 3:e2

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Long-Term Surgical Complications in the Oral Cancer Patient: a Comprehensive Review. Part II

Antonia Kolokythas

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, USA

Corresponding author:

Antonia Kolokythas

Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Center

University of Illinois at Chicago,

801 S. Paulina Street, MC 835, Chicago, IL, 60612-7210

USA

Phone: 312-996-1052

Fax: 312-996-5987

E-mail: ga1@uic.edu

Copyright © Kolokythas A. Accepted for publication in the JOURNAL OF ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL RESEARCH (http://www.ejomr.org), 4 July 2010.

This is an open-access article, first published in the JOURNAL OF ORAL & MAXILLOFACIAL RESEARCH, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work and is properly cited. The copyright, license information and link to the original publication on (http://www.ejomr.org) must be included.

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Surgery remains the preferred treatment for the majority of oral cancers. The aim of the present article was to provide a comprehensive review of complications associated with surgical treatment of oral cancer including hardware failure; complications associated with choice of reconstruction, donor site morbidity as well as functional and aesthetic issues that impact on the quality of life.

Material and Methods: The available English language literature relevant to complications associated with surgical treatment of oral cancer was reviewed. Complications associated with potential for disfigurement, choice of reconstruction, donor site morbidity as well as functional and aesthetic issues that impact on the quality of life are summarized.

Results: In total 35 literature sources were obtained and reviewed. The topics covered in the second part of this review series include hardware failure, scars and fistula formation; complications associated with choice of reconstruction, donor site morbidity as well as functional and aesthetic issues.

Conclusions: Cancer resection should be planned around two very important concepts. First and foremost is the eradication of disease. This should be the ultimate goal of the ablative team and all potential complications that may be the result of appropriately executed oncologic resection should be discussed in details with the patient. Adequate reconstruction of the defects with restoration of form and function is the second, but not of less importance, goal for the successful care of the head and neck cancer patient.

J Oral Maxillofac Res 2010 (Jul-Sep);1(3):e2

doi: 10.5037/jomr.2010.1302

Accepted for publication: 4 July 2010

Keywords: oral cancer; postoperative surgical complications; hardware failure; donor site complications; scarring; fistula.

Copyright © 2009 by Journal of Oral & maxillofacial Research. All rights reserved.