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Donor site morbidity after scapular tip free flaps in head-and-neck reconstruction
Silvano Ferrari1, Andrea Ferri1, Bernardo Bianchi1
1Maxillo-Facial Surgery Division, Head and Neck Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Background:
Recently, the scapular tip free flap has been popularized as a valuable option for bone reconstruction of the head and neck area. Analyses of perioperative and long-time morbidity are crucial to enable complete comprehension of this technique and will be presented in this paper.
Methods:
Perioperative and long-term morbidity of scapular tip flaps harvesting were analyzed in a cohort of 19 patients. Local complications and ambulation-time were used to assess perioperative results, while Constant-Murley and DASH scores were used to evaluate long-term morbidity on shoulder functions.
Results:
Local perioperative complications were minimal (three cases of seroma and two wound dehiscence). Ambulation time ranged between 2 and 4 days (mean 2.7 days). Constant-Murley scores ranged between 66 and 100 (mean 92.2). The DASH score ranged between 39 and 85 (mean 48.6).
Conclusion:
Harvesting a scapular tip free flap resulted in very low shoulder morbidity, without interfering the patient's daily activities. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 35:447-450, 2015.
