Comparison of Speech and Swallowing Function between Anterolateral Thigh Flap, Radial Forearm Flap and Primary Closure for Tongue Reconstruction after Hemiglossectomy

Abstract

Anterolateral thigh perforator (ALT) flaps have been successfully used in many places of the body other than the tongue. We conducted this study to compare the postoperative functional recovery of tongue reconstruction after hemiglossectomy with ALT flaps, radial forearm flaps, and primary closure. Eighteen patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue who had undergone hemiglossectomy and were reconstructed with primary closure, radial forearm flaps or ALT flaps were included in this study. Six months later speech and swallowing function assessment for articulation, intelligibility and repetition rate for speech and bolus volume, duration of deglutition of single bolus for swallowing were conducted. We found that patients undergoing primary closure had better intelligibility and clearer articulation but similar repetition rate than the two free flap groups. Patients in the two free flap groups had faster ingestion rate than those in the primary closure group. No significant difference in both speech and swallowing function were found between the two free flap groups.