Quality of life outcomes in patients receiving dental implants in vascularised bone flaps for mandibular reconstruction

Vinay Tumuluri; Emma Charters; Rebecca L Venchiarutti; David Leinkram; Catriona Froggatt; Masako Dunn; James Wykes; Jasvir Singh; Tsu-Hui Hubert Low; Carsten E Palme; Dale Howes; Sydney Ch'ng; Jonathan R Clark

doi:10.1016/j.bjoms.2024.04.017

Quality of life outcomes in patients receiving dental implants in vascularised bone flaps for mandibular reconstruction

Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2024 May 23:S0266-4356(24)00115-3. doi: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2024.04.017. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Adelaide, Australia. Electronic address: vinaytumuluri101@gmail.com.
² Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
³ Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; RPA Institute of Academic Surgery, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁴ Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁵ Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Royal Prince Alfred Institute of Academic Surgery, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.
⁶ Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney Dental School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
⁷ Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Royal Prince Alfred Institute of Academic Surgery, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Department of Plastic Surgery, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, 50 Missenden Rd, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
⁸ Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Royal Prince Alfred Institute of Academic Surgery, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

PMID: 39550329
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2024.04.017

Abstract

Resection, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of the mandible impact function and health related quality of life (HRQOL). In this study, we aimed to understand the impact of delayed versus immediate dental implant placement. A cross-sectional and prospective study was conducted including patients who underwent reconstruction of the mandible via osseous vascularised bone flaps and dental implants. The FACE-Q Head and Neck Cancer module and the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory and Speech Handicap Index were used to evaluate HRQOL. A total of 187 implants were placed in 52 patients, of which 44 patients (85%) completed questionnaires. Immediate dental implant placement was associated with superior FACE-Q appearance (p = 0.02), oral competence (p = 0.004), smile distress (p = 0.03), and satisfaction with information (p = 0.004). Dentoalveolar rehabilitation through the placement of immediate dental implants at the time of surgery was found to be associated with higher HRQOL scores related to appearance, eating and drinking, oral competence, and smile.

Keywords: Dental Implants; Free Flap Surgery; Mandibular Reconstruction.