The evaluation of the functional disorders of microsurgical graft donor site and their influence on the quality of life in patients with vascularized fibular and hip grafts for the reconstructive treatment of craniofacial cancer resection

Funding source: National Science Centre
Project Author, Initiator and Researcher

Head and neck cancers account for 5% of all malignant cancers diagnosed in Poland.
In the case of head and neck cancers the basic method of treatment is the tumour resection, which can not only result in a physical disability, but also serious psychological trauma.

The growing awareness of the necessity of resection surgery, on the one hand, and the development of the reconstructive techniques, on the other hand, have resulted in the reconstructive surgeries being recognized as a significant element of modern complex head and neck cancer treatment.

The current research in this field indicates the significance of assessing the potential functional loss for a patient, not only in the head and neck area, but also in the graft donor site, which can undoubtedly affect a better recognition of the rehabilitation methods in the initial phase of the treatment as well as its further consequences.

The proposed project is a continuation of the conducted prospective trial of patients with head and neck tumour surgical resection and vascularized bone graft reconstructive treatment.

The aim of the trial is a prospective comparative analysis of the influence of grafting on the donor site of the two most commonly used vascularized bone grafts: from the ilium area and vascularized fibular graft performed after large resections of craniofacial tumours and the immediate microsurgical graft reconstructive treatment as well as an analysis of their influence on the quality of life and general physical ability of the patients.

The subject of the study will include: an analysis of walking parameters with the use of Vicon 460 computer motion analysis system, dynamographic platforms and Motion Lab Systems electromyograph; an analysis of medical history and physical examination of the condition of the donor site as well as the influence of the choice of individual rehabilitation methods according to a complex protocol; an analysis of possible complications in the post-surgical period and remote complications.

The trial will be conducted prior to the surgery as well as 1 and 3 months after the surgical treatment. Additionally, during each medical consultation patients will be asked to fill in a standardized quality of life questionnaire EORTC QLQ-H&N35. The obtained results will also enable the development of suitable health care standards in patients after head and neck cancer treatment and complex reconstructive autologous graft treatment as the rehabilitation and health care strategy for such patients have not been worked out in Poland yet.