Does Microvascular free flap Reconstruction in oral Squamous cell Carcinoma Improve Patient Survival?

Abstract

Objective We analyzed our experiences with microvascular reconstruction after oncologic resections for oral squamous cell carcinoma. Has microvascular surgery changed the survival rate of these patients? Design Retrospective study. Subjects and Methods Forty-two consecutive patients enrolled from March 1999 to December 2004. Follow-up time ranged from 1 to 94 months. Survival rates were evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared among different groups with the use of Cox regression. Results The actuarial 5-year survival rate was 41.9% (SD = 9.6%). Survival rates were also analyzed according to T, N, and stage. The survival was significantly related only to N, which showed a 72.4% increase in the risk related to the increase of one N stage. Conclusions A comparison between our study group and those of 3 previous similar studies would not provide definitive statistical evidence, but it could certainly suggest a trend. The comparison seems to support that microvascular free tissue transfer does not change the survival of these patients.