Development and validation of a nomogram incorporating selected systemic inflammation-based prognostic marker for complication prediction after vascularized fibula flap reconstruction

•The systemic inflammation-based prognostic marker (ANS) was found to be an independent risk factor for complications prediction after vascularized fibula flap reconstruction.•Nomogram based on perioperative risk factors could be used to predict postoperative complications.•Higher accuracy and more potential clinical benefit was attained in the nomogram incorporating the ANS for complications prediction after vascularized fibula flap reconstruction. To develop and validate a nomogram incorporating systemic inflammatory markers (the Albumin/NLR Score [ANS]) to predict postoperative complications after vascularized fibula flap reconstruction. A total of 238 patients who underwent vascularized fibula flap reconstruction between March 2012 and December 2016 were collected as the primary cohort. Univariable and multivariable analysis were performed to identify independent risk factors for postoperative complications. Backward stepwise logistic regression analysis was then applied with and without the ANS; and nomograms were established based on these criteria. Independent validation of these nomograms was carried out in an independent validation cohort including 106 consecutive patients from December 2016 and January 2018. Radiotherapy history (odds ratio [OR] = 0.336; 95% CI, 0.157–0.717; P = 0.005), the ANS (OR = 0.248; 95% CI, 0.093–0.661; P = 0.005) and fluid infusion rate over 24 h (OR = 0.671; 95% CI, 0.479–0.94; P = 0.02) were identified as independent risk factors for postoperative complications. A higher C-index was found in both the primary (0.759; 95% CI, 0.719–0.739) and validation cohort (0.704; 95% CI, 0.613–0.659) for the nomogram incorporating the ANS, and NRI was 0.496 (95% CI, 0.072–0.920; P = 0.022) comparing of these nomograms. Furthermore, a wider threshold probability (0.2–0.9) and superior clinical value were observed in the nomogram incorporating the ANS on the decision curve. The ANS was an independent risk factor for postoperative complications associated with vascularized fibula flap reconstruction. The nomogram incorporating the ANS was established with better accuracy and showed more potential clinical benefit for the estimation of postoperative complications.