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| Research article summary (published 30 May 2009): |
Complications with forehead flaps in nasal reconstruction.
Full Abstract
OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To determine what characteristics and comorbidities are associated with a higher rate of complications in patients undergoing nasal reconstruction with a forehead flap. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. METHODS: Chart review was completed on all patients undergoing nasal reconstruction with forehead flap from 1995 to 2008. Three pre-existing comorbidities were tracked: diabetes, smoking, and vascular disease. Major complications (flap necrosis, nasal obstruction, alar notching) and minor adverse outcomes (partial nasal obstruction, epidermolysis, and alar asymmetry) were recorded. RESULTS: Two hundred five patients with a median age of 66 years had forehead flap reconstruction between October 1995 and July 2008. Sixty-two patients (30.2%) had full-thickness defects. Forty-eight patients (23.4%) were smokers, 17 (8.3%) were diabetics, and 90 (43.9%) fell into our category of vascular disease. Thirty-three (16.1%) developed a major complication at some point in their postoperative course, with 11 (5.4%) having some degree of flap necrosis, 10 (4.9%) nasal obstruction, and 20 (9.8%) alar notching. Full-thickness defects were significantly associated with higher incidences of any major complication, and had higher odds of flap necrosis and alar notching. Smokers had higher odds of developing flap necrosis. Neither the presence of diabetes, increased age, nor vascular disease was significantly associated with higher rates of major complications. CONCLUSIONS: Smokers with full-thickness defects are shown to be at greater odds for developing a postoperative complication. Laryngoscope, 2009.
Author information
Author/s: Little, Stewart C (SC); Hughley, Brian B (BB); Park, Stephen S (SS);
Affiliation: and Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908-0713, USA.
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article
Journal: The Laryngoscope (Laryngoscope), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: 2009-Jun; vol 119 (issue 6) : pp 1093-9
Dates: Created 2009/05/26; Completed 2009/06/11;
PMID: 19418536, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 6/11/2009, IMS Date: )
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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