Abstract
Supermicrosurgery involves the dissection and anastomosis of vessels<0.8 mm in diameter
with minimal donor site morbidity. This study evaluated the feasibility and outcomes
of free flaps using supermicrosurgery to repair oncological defects in the maxillofacial
region. Forty-two patients were treated with supermicrosurgery to repair oncological
defects in the maxillofacial region between December 2015 and February 2021. The supermicrosurgery
technique was used for different types of free flap, including 24 superficial circumflex
iliac artery perforator flaps, seven anterolateral thigh flaps, three peroneal artery
perforator flaps, five medial femoral condyle osteo-adipofascial flaps, and three
profunda artery perforator flaps. An artery-to-artery approach was used in 38 patients;
venous grafts for anastomosis were used in four patients to resolve an arterial discrepancy.
Forty-one flaps (97.6%) survived. Thirty-six patients (85.7%) healed without any complications;
three flaps required revision surgery including one lost, one demonstrated wound dehiscence,
and two demonstrated wound infection. Supermicrosurgery is a useful complement to
conventional microsurgery in head and neck reconstruction.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 17, 2022
Accepted:
April 20,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
