Patient Preference in Placement of the Donor-Site Scar in Head and Neck Cancer Reconstruction

Abstract

Although the radial forearm flap has become the workhorse for soft-tissue oral reconstructive surgery in head and neck cancer, there have been concerns regarding the healing and aesthetic result at the donor site.1 As there is often a choice in the selection of the free flap, it seemed appropriate to ask patients whether they have preferences for donor-site scar placement.A questionnaire was designed and piloted that asked patients their preference for the site of a scar (Fig. 1). Three different patient groups (50 patients each) were recruited consecutively over 8 months, with no refusals: group 1, head and neck cancer patients treated with a free flap; group 2, head and neck cancer patients without a free flap; and group 3, maxillofacial outpatients, of similar age. Group 1 patients were also asked how distressed they were by their scar (on a 10-point scale, with 1 being least distressed).