Assessment of quality of life in maxillectomy patients rehabilitated with obturator prosthesis

• Author Details:   
• Divya Mittal
• Parag Dua ^*
• Thiruvalluvan Nagarajan
• Saurav Kumar
• Navdeep Singh
• Sonam Yangchen

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Aim: To perform subjective evaluation of the oral health related changes in quality of life, using three QoL scales, in maxillectomy patientsrehabilitated with obturator prosthesis.
Materials and Methods: Questionnaire based prospective study involving 38 patients, of age group 39-72 years, who have undergonemaxillectomy due to various reasons, reported to the Dept. of Prosthodontics for rehabilitation, were enrolled for the study. After requisite informed consent for participation in the study, the base line data for QoL using 3 scales, i.e.a) University of Washington Quality of Life (UW-QoL), b) Obturator functioning scale (OFS), c)Maxillofacial Prosthesis Performance Scale (MFPPS) were recorded,followed by prosthetic rehabilitation with maxillary obturators. The patients were subjected to the scales again at 7 days and 30 days post-rehabilitation. Questionnaire included 37 questions related to the patient’s physical health, well-being, psychological status and social involvement in the day-to-day life. The collated data was statisticallyevaluated using statistical package for social science (SPSS). Probability level of P<.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: There was an overall improvement in the index of quality of life subsequent to rehabilitation with maxillary obturator. The findings of the study become validated with more firmity when the marked improvement in Quality of life is observed with all the three scales used in the study. When measured with UW-QoL scale, mean overall increase was 62.08 units in quality of life post prosthetic rehabilitation. Positive adaptive responses towards the obturator were observed as the time span of its usage by the patient increased from the initial post insertionvisit (mean value: 61.5) to follow up visit after 30 days (mean value: 72.1) with OFS scale.The results were statistically significant. While using MFPPS Scale, statistically significant results were obtained in terms of chewing efficiency and better swallowing of foods.
Conclusion: Quality of life improved after prosthetic rehabilitation of patients who had undergone maxillectomy in terms of physical and psychological well-being. Positive adaptive responses were observed with increased usage of prosthesis after 30 days follow up.

Keywords: Maxillectomy, Obturator prosthesis, Quality of Life, UW-QoL, OFS, MFPPS.