General observations:
(1) Greater disfigurement is associated with tissue removal in the central portion of the face as opposed to the periphery. The central portion of the face provides greater audiovisual stimuli in interactions with others.
(2) Since 3 of the major sense organs are centrally located, resection of the central portion of the face may be associated with more significant dysfunction.
(3) Surgery on the mandible may be associated with both significant disfigurement and dysfunction.
Surgery |
Rank Order for Disfigurement |
radical neck dissection |
1 |
cheek resection with forehead flap repair |
2 |
total parotidectomy with facial nerve sacrifice |
3 |
total laryngectomy |
4 |
bilateral radical neck dissection |
5 |
orbital exenteration |
6 |
hemimandibulectomy and radical neck dissection |
7 |
nasal amputation |
8 |
anterior partial mandibulectomy |
9 |
segmental mandibulectomy and radical neck dissection |
10 |
orbital exenteration and radical maxillectomy |
11 |
from Table 1, page 561
Functional Loss |
Rank Order for Dysfunction |
loss of smell |
1 |
unilateral hearing loss |
2 |
impaired mastication |
3 |
impaired speech |
4 |
unilateral loss of vision |
5 |
impaired control of salivary secretions |
6 |
impaired deglution |
7 |
aphonia |
8 |
from Table 2, page 561
where:
• The following are not listed: bilateral loss of hearing, bilateral loss of vision, inability to swallow.
Purpose: To determine the degree of disfigurement and dysfunction following head and neck cancer surgery using the scales of Dropkin et al.
Specialty: Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation, Surgery, general, Hematology Oncology
Objective: complication detection, surgery
ICD-10: C00-C14, C69-C72, C76.0,