A comparison of aesthetic, functional and patient subjective outcomes following lip-split mandibulotomy and mandibular lingual releasing access procedures

Good access to the site of oral cancer is essential to allow for adequate three-dimensional resection of the tumour. Splitting the lower lip in conjunction with a mandibulotomy offers excellent access to all areas of the mouth and pharynx, but this inevitably produces a facial scar and there is morbidity associated with the healing of the mandibulotomy. An alternative approach is the mandibular lingual releasing technique, which provides good access to the oral cavity and avoids the morbidity associated with lip-split mandibulotomy. The aim of this study was to compare aesthetic, functional and patient subjective outcomes between the two access procedures. One hundred and fifty patients had oral access procedures between 1992–95 (ninety lip-split mandibulotomy and sixty mandibular lingual release). Thirty patients fulfilled selection criteria (primary surgery as treatment, tumour size