A Comprehensive Analysis of Complications of Free Flaps for Oromandibular Reconstruction

Objectives/Hypothesis To determine the frequency and management of short‐ and long‐term complications related to oromandibular free flap reconstruction and identify potentially predictive factors of hardware complications. Study Design Retrospective chart review. Methods A retrospective database from chart review was formed consisting of 266 oromandibular free flap reconstructions performed at a single institution over a 15‐year period. Data were collected on demographics, surgical treatment, complications, and management of complications. Subgroup univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare patients with hardware complications and those without. Results Eighty‐one of 266 patients (30.5%) that underwent oromandibular reconstruction had an early complication (4 weeks after surgery) and the most common complication was plate exposure (26.7%). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed no association between whether there was hardware extrusion and fibula versus scapula, smoking history, virtual surgical planning (VSP), and dental implantation (P > .05). Only early complications (OR, 3.59, 95% CI, 1.83–7.05, P