Fistulas, either between oral cavity and external face or between oral and nasal cavity, are major complications after microsurgical head and neck reconstruction. Any flaw in surgical planning, design, and…
Microsurgical reconstruction of complex midfacial and maxillectomy defects is among the most challenging procedures in plastic surgery, and it often requires composite flaps to improve functional and aesthetic results. Various…
The risk of surgical site infection (SSI) remains high after major reconstructive surgery of the head and neck. Clinical data regarding SSI in microsurgical tongue reconstruction are described at National…
This article annotates a philosophy toward achieving best results for the patient with head and neck cancer, in particular relating to oral, mandibular, and maxillary resection. At the same time…
Maxillofacial reconstruction surgery largely relies on the use of microsurgical free transfer techniques. Head and neck cancer surgery and ballistic injuries may lead to significant losses of multitissular substances. Even…
This article discusses the lessons learned from nearly 2700 free tissue transfer procedures to reconstruct defects of the head and neck at the University of Washington. It discusses the authors’…
Free tissue transfer to the head and neck in the modern era has a high success rate. To maximize success with reconstructive surgery in the head and neck region, it…
Complex head and neck reconstruction often mandates free tissue transfer to achieve the most optimal outcomes. Unfortunately, such challenging cases are not without risks of complications, the most dreaded of…
Radiation effects on tissues greatly complicate reconstruction of head and neck defects. We discuss the unfavorable surgical conditions set up by prior surgery and radiation in patients undergoing salvage ablation…
The purpose of the current article is to provide an overview of the functional and aesthetic unfavorable results of head and neck reconstruction, and provide suggestions on how to address…
This article provides a lesson-learned approach per site and anatomic structure to head and neck reconstruction. It addresses the most common unfavorable results following successful free flap transfer shedding light…
Analysis of unfavorable results in microsurgical head and neck reconstruction beyond free flap survival is the goal of this article. Unfavorable outcome is the result of poor or inadequate planning,…
Fu-Chan Wei, MD, FACS, Editor Nidal Farhan AL Deek, MSc, MD, Editor Microsurgical reconstruction of the head and neck defects is the gold standard of treatment. Success rates are in…
Although clinical application of a pre-expanded perforator flap is primarily focused on face and neck reconstructions, such a flap has also been used to reconstruct defects in the trunk, extremities,…
Reconstruction of the postburn hand remains a challenge for surgeons. For cosmetic and functional requirements, the desired flap should be thin enough to ensure the flexibility of the hand. Conventional…
The double “S” principle should be followed for facial reconstruction: the “ similarity” of the donor site to the defect area and the reconstruction should be based on the different…
In this article, we present the pre-expanded, prefabricated supercharged cervicothoracic monoblock perforator flap for total or subtotal facial resurfacing. This technique can be a reliable reconstruction option for extensive facial…
Pre-expanded perforator flaps are the most recent technical way to shape tissue for exact needs. Reconstruction with pre-expanded free perforator flaps has proven successful in terms of obtaining more extensive,…
The medial upper arm flap is a time-honored yet ignored technique. It may be revitalized by combining the techniques of tissue expansion and perforator flap surgery. Pre-expansion increases flap dimension,…
The deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap can be used to cover large defects of the proximal lower extremity, abdominal wall, perineum, vulva, and buttock. Pre-expanding DIEP flaps cause a…
