Factors that affect the quality of life of patients with oral cancer who have had their defects reconstructed immediately after excision of the tumour.

Physical, social, and psychological factors profoundly affect the quality of life (QoL) of patients with oral cancer. Here we have investigated these factors in patients who have had resection and reconstruction of their oral cancer. We have assessed patients who had reconstructions with a pectoralis major myocutaneous (PMM) flap or a free anterolateral thigh (ALT) perforator flap using the University of Washington Quality of Life version 4 questionnaires (Chinese version). Data were analysed to investigate how age, sex, type of neck dissection, size of resection, dental condition, use of radiotherapy and need for mandibulotomy affected their QoL. Of the 72 patients who were sent a questionnaire, 61 (85%) returned them completed. Twenty-eight patients(46%) had had ALT perforator flaps and 33 patients (54%) PMM flaps. In the group who had ALT perforator flaps, age, sex, type of neck dissection, mandibulotomy, and the use of radiotherapy affected QoL. Among those who the PMM flaps, age, neck dissection, mandibulotomy, and use of radiotherapy affected QoL. The only factors that the two flaps had in common were age, neck dissection, use of radiotherapy, and mandibulotomy.