Abstract
Background: The purpose of this clinical review was to assess the feasibility of reconstructing complex head and neck defects with 2 or more free flaps simultaneously. Methods: A total of 38 articles were reviewed. The patient population included those who received 2 or more free flaps or a single free flap plus a locoregional flap. The primary outcome assessed was rate of complications. Results: Among double flaps, the minor complication rate was 6.96% and the major complication rate was 20.0%. In comparison, the free flap plus locoregional flap group had higher rates of minor and major complications of 30.4% and 29.5%, respectively. The median operating time was 660 minutes for double flaps and 602 minutes for free flap plus locoregional flap (P =.828). Conclusion: Compared to the single free flap plus locoregional flap, double free flaps are relatively reliable without increasing surgical complications or decreasing flap survival, while only modestly increasing operating times.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 632-646 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Head and Neck |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 2018 |
Keywords
- double flap
- free flap
- head and neck
- locoregional flap
- microvascular