Evaluation of quality of life of maxillectomy patients after prosthetic obturator rehabilitation

Background: Surgical resection of orofacial neoplasms has a profound impact on the quality of life (QOL) for patients and their families. Maxillectomy defects are most commonly rehabilitated using obturator prosthesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate and evaluate the QOL of patients with maxillofacial defects after maxillectomy and prosthodontic therapy with obturator prosthesis. QOL is an important consideration that infl uences the living conditions of society. Material and Methods: About 16 out of 20 patients were included in the study. The QOL of these patients who underwent maxillectomy and prosthodontic therapy was assessed by applying a standard questionnaire, Obturator Functional Scale. Results: QOL after prosthetic obturator rehabilitation was assessed to be 59.9 ± 3.7% on average. QOL of obturator patients was not signifi cantly related to age (P = 0.9), and gender (P = 0.320). The extent of therapy was correlated positively with QOL. A signifi cantly better average rating was found in patient who underwent surgery (64.75 ± 1.2), followed by patients with surgery + radiotherapy (60.95 ± 2.02) and surgery + radiotherapy + chemotherapy (55 ± 2.36) with a P = 0.006. QOL was also signifi cantly related to educational status (P = 0.001) in contrast to other parameters like age and gender. Conclusion: Orofacial rehabilitation of patients with maxillofacial defects using obturator prosthesis is an appropriate treatment modality. To improve the situation of patients before and after maxillectomy, suffi cient information about treatment, adequate psychological care, and speech therapy should be provided. The signifi cance of sound functioning of obturator prosthesis for QOL was intensifi ed by the fi ndings of this study and confi rmed the results of similar studies.