Objectives: To describe the experience of two tertiary academic centers with multiple, simultaneous free flaps for complex head and neck defect reconstruction.
Methods: Patients undergoing multiple, simultaneous free flaps from 2017 to 2022 were retrospectively reviewed.
Results: Seventy-one patients (64.8% male, median age 61 years) were identified and underwent 143 free flaps. The leading surgical indication was squamous cell carcinoma (n = 48, 67.6%). Defect sites included oral cavity, maxilla, pharynx, parotid, skull base, and scalp. The most common free flap combinations were fibula (FFF) with anterolateral thigh flap (n = 33, 46.5%), radial forearm (RFFF) with scapula (n = 11, 15.5%), and RFFF with FFF (n = 10, 14.1%). Median operative time was 12 h. Median length of hospitalization was 10 days. At last follow-up (median 6 months), 141 flaps (98.6%) survived without partial nor complete flap failure.
Conclusion: Multiple, simultaneous free flaps are a rare, yet reliable option for head and neck reconstruction in select patients with defects involving several tissue types, multiple functional areas, or large volumes.
Keywords: Free tissue flaps; Head and neck neoplasms; Mandibular reconstruction; Microsurgery; Mouth neoplasms.
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