Double free flaps for complex oromandibular defects with two teams of head and neck reconstructive surgical oncologists

Abstract

Abstract From December 2019 to July 2021, double free flaps were used by two teams of head-and-neck reconstructive surgical oncologists in 10 patients with large composite mandibulofacial defects following malignant tumor (n = 8) and osteoradionecrosis (n = 2) ablation. Our report included 10 patients. All of our patients were reconstructed by two free flaps, a combination of an anterolateral thigh flap (n = 8) or a radial forearm flap (n = 2) with an osteocutaneous fibula flap. The survival rate of these flaps was 100%. The mean operative time was 597 ± 41.7 min (range 545–660 min). There were no patients with major complications. Most of our patients had accepted functional and cosmetic results of both recipient site and donor site after a median follow-up of 22.5 months. Two teams of reconstructive surgical oncologists may shorten the operative time and reduce the rate of major complications. Main Points: Huge complex oromandibular defects may require the use of double free flap reconstruction. Double free flaps were used by two teams of head-and-neck reconstructive surgical oncologists. This approach may shorten the operative time and reduce the rate of major complications.