Usefulness of New Method using Absorbable Sealing Materials and Fibrin Glue to Wound of Partial Glossectomy

Objectives: Polyglycolic acid (PGA) felt is a bioabsorbable suture reinforcement consisting of polyglycolide, and nonwoven fabric with some elasticity by the special manufacturing process. There are many methods to cover wound on partial glossectomy, for example, suture only and covering by other materials. But we experienced they were difficult to cover the wound for a given period of time or we were difficult to check the patients after surgery.

Methods: We report the new method of partial glossectomy for the patients with tongue cancer. This method is using PGA felt and fibrin glue and after stacking the PGA felt, spraying the fibrin glue. The subjects were 63 patients, ranged in age from 38 to 87 years old with tongue cancer. In all cases we treated by partial glossectomy and covered wounds by new method. As compared, 32 patients were covered wounds by artificial dermis, and 41 patients were performed by suturing. All of 136 patients were diagnosed squamous cell carcinoma, T₁N₀M₀ or T₂N₀M₀.

Results: As a result of this method, this study indicated this method were very useful after partial glossectomy. We covered the wounds of operation region for a long time. And we avoided the indurations after operation and we were easy to check the progress of patients. This method was useful for prevention of postoperative bleeding, relief from postoperative pain, and reduction of postoperative scar contracture.

Conclusions: The new surgical treatment – using PGA felt and fibrin glue - for the patients with glossectomy is useful. In particularly, this method is very useful for postoperative scar constraction.