Functional Outcomes of Staged Triangular Cheek Flap Commissuroplasty in Oral Cancer Patients With Free Flap Reconstruction of Through-and-Through Defects

This study evaluates functional outcomes of triangular check flap commissuroplasty after free flap reconstruction of through-and-through defects. Twenty-two patients were reviewed from the institutional data set. Outcome variables included postoperative diet, drooling, and change in maximal incisal opening (MIO). A telephonic assessment of the drooling severity and frequency scale (DSFS) was also performed. A Wilcoxon signed rank test for differences between groups and a univariate analysis were performed. The majority of patients were reconstructed with an ALT flap (82%). No significant change in type of diet ( P =0.87) or MIO ( P =0.63) was noted. Eighty percent of patients reported improvement in drooling with DSFS score being 6.5 ± 2.1 and 4.2 ± 1.6 ( P =0.02) preoperatively and postoperatively. No predictors were identified on UV analysis. Triangular cheek flap commissuroplasty did not demonstrate a significant change in MIO or type of diet after revision surgery. In addition, a gross improvement in drooling was noted.