Trismus surgical release and free flap reconstruction after radiation therapy in oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to review our experience in trismus release followed by free flap reconstruction after radiotherapy in oral and oropharyngeal cancer, describe the results obtained in long-term follow-up and identify possible predictors of outcome. METHODS: Patients' demographics, tumor characteristics and treatment where retrieved. Surgical release and reconstructive procedures were detailed. Interincisor distances (IIDs) where measured preoperatively (PO-IID), intraoperatively after release (IO-IID) and in the last follow-up (FU-IID). Potential predictors of outcome in terms of interincisor long-term gain (LT-gain) and postoperative loss (PO-loss) were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients were included in our study. The mean LT-gain was 8.9 +/- 7.0 mm, and the PO-loss was 22.14 +/- 7.27 mm. Patients with a PO-IID of 10 mm or less had a significant higher LT-gain (P = 0.038). Predictors of worse outcome included having received a previous maxillectomy during tumor ablation (lower LT-gain, P = 0.035), and previous buccal mucosa resection (higher PO-loss, P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: Trismus release and free flap reconstruction after radiotherapy in oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients seems to be associated with modest long term results and a high incidence of trismus recurrence, particularly in cases of prior buccal resections or maxillectomy. Patients should be adequately informed and carefully selected before indicating the procedure.