Case Reports in Plastic Surgery & Hand Surgery | 2021
Analysis of speech and swallowing and quality of life in patients undergoing subtotal glossectomy with free flap reconstruction followed by radiotherapy
Abstract
Abstract Six patients (4 with post-operative radiotherapy, 2 without) were formally assessed by a speech and language therapist 12\u2009months post-operatively. Patient-reported quality of life (QOL) was simultaneously measured. Patients treated with post-operative radiotherapy had lower overall speech comprehensibility scores, poorer swallowing function in puree and solid foods and lower overall QOL.