{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Free flap reconstruction following head and neck trauma.
{Author}: Sweeny L;Kane AC;Thomas CM;Futran N;Curry JM;Bur AM;Lu GN;Shukla A;Skoog H;Pena Garcia JA;Alnemri AE;Alapati R;DiLeo M;Fuson A;Tan K;Taghizadeh F;Jefferson GD;Petrisor D;Wax MK;
{Journal}: Head Neck
{Volume}: 0
{Issue}: 0
{Year}: 2024 Jul 10
{Factor}: 3.821
{DOI}: 10.1002/hed.27867
{Abstract}: <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Free flap (FF) reconstruction of traumatic injuries to the head and neck is uncommon.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Multi-institutional retrospective case series of patients undergoing FF reconstruction for a traumatic injury (n = 103).<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Majority were gunshot wounds (GSW; 85%, n = 88) and motor vehicle accidents (11%, n = 11). Majority underwent osseous reconstruction (82%, n = 84). FF failures (9%, n = 9/103) occurred in GSW patients (100%, n = 9/9) and when multiple subsites were injured (89%, n = 8/9). Preoperative antibiotics correlated with lower rates of a neck washouts (4% vs. 19%) (p = 0.01) and 30-day readmissions (4% vs. 17%) (p = 0.02).<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>All FF failures occurred in the setting of a GSW and the majority involved multiple subsites. Preoperative antibiotics correlated with lower rates of postoperative washout procedures and 30-day readmission.