Microvascular Reconstruction: Evidence-Based Procedures

Steven B Cannady; Eric Lamarre; Mark K Wax

doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2015.04.007

Microvascular Reconstruction: Evidence-Based Procedures

Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2015 Aug;23(3):347-56. doi: 10.1016/j.fsc.2015.04.007. Epub 2015 Jun 12.

Authors

Steven B Cannady¹, Eric Lamarre², Mark K Wax³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, University of Pennsylvania, Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
² Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
³ Department of Otolaryngology-HNS, Oregon Health and Sciences University, 3181 Southwest Sam Jackson Park Road PV-01, Portland, OR 97239, USA. Electronic address: waxm@ohsu.edu.

PMID: 26208772
DOI: 10.1016/j.fsc.2015.04.007

Abstract

Microvascular free tissue transfer is the best modality of replacing composite tissue defects with composite vascularized tissue. Wound healing, functional reconstruction, rehabilitation, and cosmesis are best accomplished when the tissue defect is replaced by free tissue. The reconstructive tissue can be tailored to the defect and is harvested from outside the often radiated pretreated reconstructive field. Evidence to support the use of free tissue transfer in head and neck defects is not of the highest level. This article reviews the postoperative monitoring of free tissue transfer, lateral mandibular reconstruction (fibula vs radial forearm), and functional outcomes with free tissue transfers.

Keywords: Free flap; Functional outcome; Mandible; Monitoring; Reconstruction.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Evidence-Based Medicine*
Humans
Microvessels / surgery*
Vascular Surgical Procedures / methods*