Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2015, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (30): 4903-4907.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2015.30.028

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Titanium mesh combined with forearm free flap for maxillary defects is better to maintain swallowing and language function

Liu Zhong   

  1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Central Hospital of Enshi Autonomous Prefecture, Enshi Clinical College of Wuhan University, Enshi 445000, Hubei Province, China
  • Online:2015-07-16 Published:2015-07-16
  • About author:Liu Zhong, Associate chief physician, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Central Hospital of Enshi Autonomous Prefecture, Enshi Clinical College of Wuhan University, Enshi 445000, Hubei Province, China

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Prosthetic appliance is often adopted for clinical maxillary repair, which can maintain swallowing and language function in patients with a certain extent, but if the defect is too large, the prosthesis has a poor fixed effect that is prone to inducing various adverse consequences.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the maintenance effect of titanium mesh combined with forearm free flap on swallowing and language function in patients with maxillary defects.

METHODS: A total of 35 patients with maxillary defects, 19 males and 16 females, aged 33-93 years, were enrolled. Among them, 17 patients underwent maxillectomy and wound packing with iodoform gauzes, and then after 1 year, these patients were given prosthesis repair as control group; another 18 patients were subjected to titanium mesh combined with forearm free flap for repair of maxillary defects as observation group. All the patients were followed up for 24 months, and the swallowing and language functions were evaluated.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At 24 months after repair, all the patients were satisfied with facial appearance, and there were no adverse reactions related to repair materials. Scores on swallowing function, language function, pain fucntion, face function, motor function, entertainment function, masticatory function and oral health were significantly higher in the observation group than the control group (P < 0.05), and the score on the shoulder dysfunction was lower in the observation than the control group, indicating the patients in the observation group had a higher quality of life than those in the control group. These findings indicate that titanium mesh combine with forearm free flap for maxillary defect repair can be better to maintain the swallowing and language function of patients.

中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点:生物材料;骨生物材料; 口腔生物材料; 纳米材料; 缓释材料; 材料相容性;组织工程

Key words: Surgical Flaps, Biocompatible Materials

CLC Number: