The outcome of free-flap reconstructive surgery for tissue defects following head and neck surgeries: a report of 29 cases

Reconstruction by free tissue transfer and microvascular anastomosis can provide a reliable repair for tissue defects in head and neck surgeries. During this study, we evaluated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of reconstructive surgery by the use of free flaps for defects resulting from head and neck cancers.

This quasi-experimental study included 29 patients having been diagnosed with head and neck cancers and referred to the Plastic Surgery Clinic and Cancer Institute of Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex in Tehran, Iran, for the resection of cancerous tissue. After operation, the patients were followed-up for three months and the surgical outcomes were evaluated.

The mean age of participants was 50.8 ± 15.1 yrs. Two patients (6.9%) had total and three (10.3%) had partial flap loss. The rate of total and partial flap loss in this study was less than 10%. There were no differences between groups with total and partial flap loss regarding mean age, mean operation time, and mean perioperative ischemia time. Prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR) were significantly different in patients with total flap loss compared with patients with successful reconstruction. The INR for the group with total loss was 2.2 and 1.2 ± 0.3 for other patients (P=0.0006). The mean ACT was 46 seconds in patients with total flap loss and 82 ± 18.9 seconds for other patients (P=0.08).

Considering its high success rate, free tissue transfer can be considered as a method for single-stage reconstruction in almost all major head and neck defects.