Association Between Anthropometry and Wound Dehiscence of Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Nutritional status is a sensitive indicator of health. There is not a single parameter that serve as the only and best parameter to evaluate malnourished patients or patients with risk for malnutrition. Patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma were a focus of concern for nutritional impairment. Nutritional impairment is a common phenomenon among the patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. But it is often ignored in treatments and follow-up care. The objective of the study was to assess relationship between anthropometry and wound dehiscence of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Sixty oral squamous cell carcinoma patients were histologically confirmed. This study was descriptive and cross-sectional study. All patients were studied and followed until discharge from hospital. Surgery of primary lesion with neck dissection were performed for all patients under general anesthesia. The mean age was 47.6±10.8 years in group I, 49.7±8.6 years in group II. The mean BMI was statistically significant (p<0.05) between two groups. Statistically significant relationship was found between BMI and wound dehiscence. So, every patient should assess nutritional status pre-operatively to reduce post-operative wound dehiscence.