Functional Outcomes of Carcinoma Lip—A Prospective Analysis in a Series of Patients by the Use of FIGS and FLIGS Scoring

Oral competence is an important functional component of all patients affected with oral cavity malignancy who are undergoing different treatment modalities. Our primary objectives were to assess and compare the functional outcomes of patients with carcinoma lip undergoing various therapeutic interventions at our institution on the basis of FIGS (Functional Intra Oral Glasgow Scale) and FLiGS (Functional Lip Glasgow Scale) scoring systems. Between January 2021 and April 2022, 23 patients who were histologically confirmed with carcinoma lip were included in our analysis on accrual and were followed up post treatment. A questionnaire was given to the patients translated into their native language, and the responses were analyzed based on the FIGS (Functional Intra Oral Glasgow Score) and FLiGS (Functional Lip Glasgow Scale). Total number of patients that underwent surgical intervention were 78.3% ( n -18), and the patients who underwent concurrent chemo-radiotherapy were 21.7% ( n -5). Based on the average FIGS and FLIGS scoring and on the responses given by the patients, primary closure and local flap reconstruction scored relatively better (FIGS 15/FLIGS 25) than other forms of reconstruction techniques. Patients undergoing forehead flap reconstruction had responded to have a poorer functional outcome (FIGS 12/FLIGS 22]. Patients undergoing concurrent chemo-radiotherapy also had poor functional outcomes due to post radiotherapy sequelae as per the scoring system. Oncological outcomes in oral cavity malignancies need to emphasize on the functional component of these patients. FIGS (Functional Intraoral Glasgow Scale) and FLiGS (Functional Lip Glasgow Scale) scoring systems are a simple tool that can assess the functional outcomes after various definitive therapeutic interventions for patients with carcinoma lip.