The Safety of a Buried, Free Fat Flap to Reduce Neck Morbidity Following Cancer Treatment: A Pilot Study

Summary

The purpose of this study is to find out whether the fat ALT flap procedure is a safe and practical option for reducing neck morbidity in HNSCC patients following cancer treatment of the neck. Neck morbidity after radiation therapy and surgery includes difficulty swallowing, neck or shoulder pain, stiffness, swelling, or changes to the appearance of the treated area. In addition, the researchers will find out whether the study procedure is effective at reducing neck morbidity and improving quality of life after cancer treatment. The researchers will measure quality of life by having participants answer questionnaires.

Arms & interventions

• OtherHRQOL instruments

  These instruments include Face Q for Appearance, Eating \& drinking, Swallowing, and Saliva (patient-reported); the Neck Dissection Impairment Index (patient-reported); the Long-term ENT-Subjective/Objective/Management/Analysis (LENT-SOMA) for skin-subcutaneous tissue, muscle-soft tissue, mucosa - oral and pharyngeal, salivary gland, and mandible (patient- and clinician-reported); modified barium swallow study (8-point penetration aspiration scale).

• OtherLENT SOMA instrument

  LENT SOMA instrument will also be provided to summarize objective quality-of-life-related measures recorded at 12 months postoperatively, including interincisor distance (mm); neck range of motion measured in degrees of flexion, extension, lateral flexion, and rotation to both sides; and shoulder range of motion, measured in degrees of abduction.

Outcome measures

Eligibility criteria