Objective: To evaluate donor site morbidity of the serratus anterior free flap (SAFF) in head and neck reconstruction. Methods: The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire (0 no disability to 100 most severe disability) was applied to 20 patients (M: 16; F: 4) who underwent ablative surgery and reconstruction of the head and neck using a SAFF. Applications, as well as the donor site, recipient site and flap-related complications, were evaluated. Results: SAFF was mainly used for tongue (n = 11; 55.0%) and pharyngeal reconstruction after a laryngopharyngectomy (n = 4; 20.0%). The majority of patients presented with stage IV disease (n = 12; 60%) and had undergone previous radiotherapy (n = 14; 70%). Our free flap survival rate was 88.9% and the pectoralis major muscle flap (PMMF) was used in 5 patients as a salvage option to reconstruct pharyngeal defects. The mean/median DASH score was 21.6/19.9 (healthy norm 10.1), indicating only mild to moderate disability. However, free flap failure and the additional harvest of PMMF multiplies donor site morbidity since it was associated with a 3- and 2.6-times higher DASH score (46.0 vs. 15.5; p = 0.039 and 39.9 vs. 15.47; p = 0.081). Conclusions: The SAFF represents a versatile flap for head and neck reconstruction with low donor site morbidity.
Keywords: DASH score; donor site morbidity; head and neck reconstruction; serratus anterior free flap.