Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  1999 Jul;42(7):876-881.

Free Flap Reconstruction in the Head and Neck Regions: A Review of 40 Cases

• Baek CH
• Son YI
• Kim SM
• Chu KC
• Ha BJ
• Kim YD

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: With the advent of free flap reconstruction techniques, several free flaps were used for a variety of head and neck defects. The objective of this study was to review our experience during 3-year period in performing 40 microvascular free flaps for head and neck defects. Materials and Method: A review of 40 microvascular free flaps performed in 38 patients between April 1995 through August 1998 was undertaken. Patient's age, sex, stage of disease, types of free flaps, short-term postoperative outcome including the flap success rate, postoperative complications, effect of preoperative irradiation on the development of the wound complications such as fistula were evaluated.
RESULTS
36 (90%) of 40 free flaps were successful with 4 failures resulting from 3 venous thromboses and 1 infection. Emergent reexploration was done in 2 patients, none of whom were successfully salvaged. The postoperative surgical complications including donor site complications and medical complications were seen in 17 flaps (47%) and in 8 flaps (22%), with multiple complications seen in several patients. The preoperative radiotherapy did not affect the incidence of the postoperative surgical complications (p=0.273).
CONCLUSION
In review of our experience, we believe that free flap reconstruction in head and neck regions has become a useful procedure with acceptable outcome and complication rates and has surpassed conventional techniques cosmetically and functionally.

Keyword

Free flap; Head and neck reconstruction

MeSH Terms

Fistula
Free Tissue Flaps*
Head*
Humans
Incidence
Neck*
Postoperative Complications
Radiotherapy
Tissue Donors
Venous Thrombosis
Wounds and Injuries