Resumen
The health-related quality of life was evaluated in 23 patients undergoing mandibular reconstruction with free fibula flap and titanium customized plates. A computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing technology were used. The University of Washington Quality of Life questionnaire for head and neck cancer patients is a widely used and validated tool, which was self-completed by the patients after 12 months of surgery. In the 12 single question domains, the highest scores were obtained in the domains of taste, shoulder function, anxiety, and pain. The lowest scores corresponded to chewing, appearance, saliva, and mood. The global quality of life was rated as good, very good, or outstanding by 81% of patients. The present results compared favorably with previous studies of mandibular reconstruction using the same questionnaire published in literature.