Semin Plast Surg 2023; 37(01): 026-030
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1759795
Review Article

Free Flap Donor-Site Complications and Management

Hunter Archibald
1   Department of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
,
Joel Stanek
2   Department of Otolaryngology, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
3   Department of Otolaryngology, Regions Hospital, St. Paul, Minnesota
,
David Hamlar
1   Department of Otolaryngology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
3   Department of Otolaryngology, Regions Hospital, St. Paul, Minnesota
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Free flap harvest will occasionally result in donor-site complications and morbidity. Most of these complications are managed simply without producing lingering effects on activities of daily living. However, some patients will sustain limb weakness, gait issues, chronic pain, and nonhealing wounds. Frank preoperative discussion between surgeon and patient is essential to maximize postoperative outcome and manage expectations. Fastidious surgical technique will help minimize the risks of hematoma, seroma, and infection, while newer techniques can help prevent some issues with wound healing, limb weakness, and sensory changes. In this article, we describe the rates of common and rare complications at free flap donor sites, as well as techniques to prevent and manage them.

Ethical Approval

Institutional review board approval not required, as this study is not a human subjects research.


Author Contributions

H.A.: methodology, project administration, writing – original draft, writing – review and editing. J.S.: methodology, writing – review and editing, supervision. D.H.: methodology, writing – review and editing, supervision. All listed authors have provided substantial contributions to the design of the study, data mining, analysis, and interpretation as well as critical revisions to the drafts and final approval for the version to be published.


Level of Evidence

Review and expert opinion.




Publication History

Article published online:
19 December 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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