Sarah Owen

The superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap in intra-oral reconstruction☆

INTRODUCTION The superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP) flap is a modification of the groin flap using perforators of the superficial circumflex iliac artery (SCIA). It has mainly been used in lower-limb reconstruction with no descriptions in the literature of its use in intra-oral soft-tissue head and neck reconstruction. This article reports the initial Newcastle experience. METHODS Data were gathered prospectively for the first five head and neck patients with SCIP flap reconstruction. All patients had a speech and swallowing assessment as part of their post-operative follow-up. RESULTS An SCIP flap was used following the resection for four intra-oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and one pharyngeal SCC. There was no flap compromise and excellent functional outcome at 6 months. The donor-site morbidity was minimal with direct closure achieved in each case leaving a scar easily concealed in the groin crease. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the results at both the primary and donor sites in our first five cases have been aesthetically and functionally excellent. The flap pedicle easily reached the common recipient vessels in the neck. The vessels can be of smaller calibre but well within the scope of the microsurgeon. The SCIP flap appears to offer a thin, pliable, reliable flap with an excellent donor site.

Baseline swallowing measures predict recovery at 6 weeks after transoral robotic surgery for head and neck cancer.

To explore whether pre‐treatment swallowing measures predict swallowing recovery at 6 weeks after transoral robotic surgery (TORS).

Defining the stenotic post-laryngectomy tracheostoma and its impact on the quality of life in laryngectomees: development and validation of a stoma function questionnaire

Objectives:  The aims of this study were to identify if: (i) size of stoma contributes to quality of life (QoL) in laryngectomees; (ii) stoma size has an impact on routine stoma care and function; and (iii) an optimal stoma size exists below which patients experience stoma problems.

Comparing the Performance Status Scale and MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory as swallowing outcome measures in head and neck cancer: a prospective cohort study

To examine the relationship between the two disease‐specific measures currently in use to assess swallowing outcomes following treatment in patients with head and neck cancer: the Performance Status Scale (PSS) and MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI).