Outcomes of Vascularized Versus Nonvascularized Adipofascial Grafts for Parotidectomy Reconstruction

Objectives: Parotidectomy defects can leave patients with considerable functional and cosmetic deformities. We aim to compare the success rates and complications associated with vascularized versus nonvascularized adipofascial grafts for reconstruction, including flap failure, return to surgery, infection, and delay to adjuvant treatment. Methods: Retrospective case series of patients undergoing either adipofascial anterolateral thigh (AFALT) free tissue transfer or free fat transfer (FFT) after parotidectomy from January 2010 to January 2020. Group comparisons and logistic regression were used to determine predictors of outcome measures. Results: Seventy-six patients underwent AFALT reconstruction, and 73 patients underwent FFT reconstruction. Patients treated with AFALT reconstruction had more aggressive tumor characteristics and underwent more complex resections, most commonly radical parotidectomy (n = 55, 72.4%). Postoperative complications at both the donor and recipient sites were more common in the FFT group (N = 20, 27.4% in FFT vs. N = 11, 14.5% in AFALT, odds ratio = 0.45, 95% confidence interval = 0.20-1.02, p = 0.052). Conclusions: Although used in more advanced disease and in a more heavily treated wound bed, the AFALT free flap was safe and associated with fewer infectious complications than that offered by FFT.