This study examined reconstructive surgery performed with the use of free flaps at our department in patients with malignant tumors (59 cases) of the oral cavity. The free flaps used for reconstruction mainly included abdominis musculocutaneous flaps (21 cases), fibula flaps (19 cases), forearm flaps (16 cases), anterolateral thigh flaps (10 cases) and the scapular osteocutaneous flaps (2 cases). The take rate of the transplanted flaps was 88.2%. Subjects with postoperative complications were examined for effects of combined preoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and were analyzed according to recipient and donor sites, and location of reconstruction.
Complications of the reconstruction flap occurred at the recipient site in 22 patients, and the donor site in 6 patients. Surgical procedures were necessary in 6 patients. When the results were analyzed according to the site of reconstruction, it was found that most complications occurred in patients who required reconstruction of the mandible (10 subjects, 14.7%). Complications were observed in 15 patients (22.1%) in the group that received preoperative chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
