Videofluorographic evaluation of dysphagia before and after modification of the flap and scar in patients with oral cancer

Abstract

Dysphagia is an important postoperative problem in patients with oral cancer. We evaluated the usefulness of a technique to modify the flap and scar for the alleviation of swallowing disorders. The modifications were made while tongue pressure was being measured to improve excursion of the residual tongue in nine patients. They had been operated on for oral cancer and reconstruction was with a forearm free flap, or the wound was closed primarily. After a 5 ml bolus of liquid barium had been given orally, lingual movement, barium inflow into the pharynx before swallowing, stasis in the epiglottic valleculae, and stasis in the oral cavity after swallowing, were evaluated by videofluorography before and after modification. Oral transit time, pharyngeal transit time, and total transit time were also measured. Lingual movement improved in eight patients. Barium inflow into the pharynx before swallowing improved slightly in all patients. Stasis in the epiglottic valleculae was improved in six patients. Stasis in the oral cavity improved in all patients. Oral transit time and total transit time were significantly shorter after modification of the flap and scar than before operation. Pharyngeal transit time was unchanged. We conclude that our technique for modification of the flap and scar can alleviate postoperative swallowing dysfunction in patients with oral cancer.