Evaluation of Outcomes from Lower Lip Defect Reconstruction after Wide Excision of Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Introduction. Lip defects may occure from various etiologies, the most prevalent being invasive malignant processes. The treatment of these lesions involves their surgical removel. The reconstructed mouth, along with the functional, esthetic, and psychological outcomes of the reconstruction, profoundly affect the patient’s quality of life.
Aim. The purpose of this paper is to present our clinical experiences with the application of different methods for the reconstruction of lower lip defects, as well as to evaluate the functional, аesthetic, and psychological outcomes after surgical intervention.
Patients and methods. This retrospective study included thirty patients who underwent surgery at the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Clinical Hospital, Stip, during the period from 2021 to 2024. The analysis was performed by gender, age, size of the skin incision, size of the defect, histological margins, and method of reconstruction. A functional, aesthetic and psychological assessment was performed six months after the surgery. Oral competence, speech intelligibility, and lip mobility during movement were evaluated. The esthetic assessment referred to the presence of microstomia and the evaluation of scar visibility. The psychological assessment referred to the patient’s levels of depression and anxiety.
Results. This study presents our clinical experiences in applying different techniques for lower lip reconstruction. The outcomes of the evaluation, in accordance with the specified parameters, are thoroughly discussed and presented.
Conclusion. A combination of various techniques can be effectively applied in the reconstruction of lower lip defects that are larger than 2/3 of its width, thereby achieving optimal functional, esthetic, and psychological outcomes.
Keywords: lip reconstruction, squamous cell carcinoma, functional, aesthetic and psychological outcomes.