Lip prosthesis as a palliative care modality for a head and neck cancer patient—A case report

Abstract

The present case report describes the prosthetic management following partial loss of free-fibular osteocutaneous flap in an irradiated patient diagnosed with recurrent head and neck cancer. The patient presented with constant drooling of oral fluids due to an anatomically deficient lower lip. Salvage reconstructive surgery was not considered feasible due to past history of recurrence, multiple surgeries and radiotherapy, and financial constraints. An adhesive-retained interim silicone prosthesis was fabricated to alleviate the functional and psychosocial morbidity. The prosthesis served to restore the oro-facial seal to prevent constant drooling of oral fluids. It also aided in providing an excellent aesthetic solution to palliate the psychological suffering experienced by the patient due to lost facial contours.