Risk Factors for Pedicle Flap Complications in 251 Elderly Chinese Patients Who Underwent Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction

Purpose: To determine risk factors for pedicle flap complications in elderly patients undergoing oral and maxillofacial reconstruction. Patients and Methods: The authors designed and implemented a retrospective cohort study and enrolled a sample of patients at least 75 years old who underwent resection of oral and maxillofacial tumors and pedicle flap reconstruction from January 2004 through December 2013. The primary predictor variable was reconstructive technique grouped into 5 types of pedicle flap. The difference among groups was tested with the chi(2) test and t test. The primary outcome variable was the presence of flap complication, which was divided into minor and major groups. Other variables were grouped into the following sets: demographic, operative, and adjuvant treatments. Univariate, bivariate, and regression statistics were computed and statistical significance was set at a P value less than .05. Results: The study sample was composed of 251 patients with a mean age of 78 years and 62.95% were men. Of these, 68.13% had various preoperative systemic diseases. With regard to flap type, 120 underwent reconstruction with a pectoralis major myocutaneous flap, 5 with a submental island flap, 4 with a submandibular gland flap, 13 with a platysma myocutaneous flap, and 109 with a sternocleidomastoid flap. TNM stage (negative correlation) and smoking (positive correlation) correlated with flap type. There were 48 complications, of which 32 were minor and 16 were major; flap failure was observed in only 1 patient. Risk factors associated with complications were types of pedicle flap, age, heart score, hypertension, diabetes, postoperative hypoproteinemia, and drug-induced liver injury. Conclusion: The pedicle flap is suitable and safe for the reconstruction of defects caused by the ablation of oral and maxillofacial tumors in elderly patients. Preoperative evaluation of positive risk factors, including type of surgery and systemic conditions, is very important for the selection of an appropriate flap for such patients. (C) 2016 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons