Abstract
The reconstruction of head and neck defects, be they traumatic, oncologic, or iatrogenic, has been revolutionized in the last two decades by the development and refinement of microvascular soft tissue transfer. What was once an onerous and often unpredictable procedure has become standardized and safe. The result is that free tissue transfer is becoming the standard of care for more and more patients, to the point that the profession must now readdress the role of more traditional techniques of reconstruction. This article reviews the recent literature on free flap-related complications to assess the appropriateness of widespread free flap reconstruction and discusses the changing indications and benefits of free tissue transfer and nonmicrovascular reconstruction.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Current opinion in otolaryngology & head and neck surgery
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
