A Multi-institutional Analysis of Late Complications in Scapula, Fibula, and Osteocutaneous Radial Forearm Free Flaps.

OBJECTIVES: (1) Evaluate the association of flap type with late complications in patients undergoing osseous head and neck reconstruction with the fibula free flap (FFF), osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap (OCRFFF), and scapula free flap (SFF). (2) Compare the prevalence of late complications based on minimum duration of follow-up. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Multiple academic medical centers. METHODS: Patients undergoing FFF, OCRFFF, or SFF with ≥6-month follow-up were stratified by type of flap performed. The association of flap type with late complications was analyzed via univariable and multivariable logistic regression, controlling for relevant clinical risk factors. Additionally, the frequency of late complications by minimum duration of follow-up was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 617 patients were analyzed: 312 (50.6%) FFF, 230 (37.3%) OCRFFFF, and 75 (12.2%) SFF. As compared with the SFF, the FFF (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.05; 95% CI, 1.61-5.80) and OCRFFF (aOR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.12-4.22) were independently associated with greater odds of overall late recipient site wound complications. The SFF was independently associated with the lowest odds of hardware exposure when compared with the FFF (aOR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.27-5.41) and OCRFFF (aOR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.11-5.12). The frequency of late complications rose as minimum duration of follow-up increased until plateauing at 36 months. CONCLUSIONS: This multi-institutional study suggests that the long-term complication profile of the SFF and OCRFFF compares favorably to the FFF. The SFF may be associated with the fewest overall late recipient site complications and hardware exposure, while the FFF may be associated with the most of these 3 options.

Perioperative Outcomes in Patients Who Underwent Fibula, Osteocutaneous Radial Forearm, and Scapula Free Flaps: A Multicenter Study.

Importance: Studies comparing perioperative outcomes of fibula free flaps (FFFs), osteocutaneous radial forearm free flaps (OCRFFFs), and scapula free flaps (SFFs) have been limited by insufficient sample size. Objective: To compare the perioperative outcomes of patients who underwent FFFs, OCRFFFs, and SFFs. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study assessed the outcomes of 1022 patients who underwent FFFs, OCRFFFs, or SFFs for head and neck reconstruction performed at 1 of 6 academic medical centers between January 2005 and December 2019. Data were analyzed from September 17, 2021, to June 9, 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures: Patients were stratified based on the flap performed. Evaluated perioperative outcomes included complications (overall acute wound complications, acute surgical site infection [SSI], fistula, hematoma, and flap failure), 30-day readmissions, operative time, and prolonged hospital length of stay (75th percentile, >13 days). Patients were excluded if data on flap type or clinical demographic characteristics were missing. Associations between flap type and perioperative outcomes were analyzed using logistic regression, after controlling for other clinically relevant variables. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% CIs were generated. Results: Perioperative outcomes of 1022 patients (mean [SD] age, 60.7 [14.5] years; 676 [66.1%] men) who underwent major osseous head and neck reconstruction were analyzed; 510 FFFs (49.9%), 376 OCRFFFs (36.8%), and 136 SFFs (13.3%) were performed. Median (IQR) operative time differed among flap types (OCRFFF, 527 [467-591] minutes; FFF, 592 [507-714] minutes; SFF, 691 [610-816] minutes). When controlling for SSI, FFFs (aOR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.36-4.51) and SFFs (aOR, 2.95; 95% CI, 1.37-6.34) were associated with a higher risk of flap loss than OCRFFFs. Compared with OCRFFFs, FFFs (aOR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.07-2.91) were associated with a greater risk of fistula after controlling for the number of bone segments and SSI. Both FFFs (aOR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.27-2.46) and SFFs (aOR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.05-2.69) were associated with an increased risk of 30-day readmission compared with OCRFFFs after controlling for Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score and acute wound complications. Compared with OCRFFFs, FFFs (aOR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.25-2.54) and SFFs (aOR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.22-3.13) were associated with a higher risk of prolonged hospital length of stay after controlling for age and flap loss. Conclusions and Relevance: Findings of this cohort study suggest that perioperative outcomes associated with OCRFFFs compare favorably with those of FFFs and SFFs, with shorter operative times and lower rates of flap loss, 30-day readmissions, and prolonged hospital length of stay. However, patients undergoing SFFs represented a more medically and surgically complex population than those undergoing OCRFFFs or FFFs.

Occult Metastases During Salvage Oral Cavity and Oropharyngeal Free Flaps: Oncologic Outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To define rates of occult metastases in salvage oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer resection requiring free flap, to examine the location of occult metastases, and to determine associations between occult metastasis and survival. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Two tertiary care referral centers. METHODS: We identified previous cases of irradiation with recurrent or second primary oral cavity or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma that had no evidence of regional metastasis and required free tissue transfer reconstruction of the primary site. Patients who underwent elective neck dissection or exploration were reviewed. The main outcome measures were the presence and location of occult nodal metastasis. Disease-free survival and overall survival were measured. Odds ratios and hazard ratios were used for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients were included: 52 with oral cavity primary tumors and 31 with oropharynx. An overall 78 (94%) underwent elective salvage neck dissection. Occult metastases were found in 9 (11.5%) patients. The most common nodal station for occult metastasis was level 2. Neither elective neck dissection nor the presence of occult metastasis was significantly associated with regional disease-free or overall survival. Oropharyngeal primary tumors were associated with higher risk of occult metastasis (odds ratio, 1.38; P < .01) and worse overall survival (hazard ratio, 2.09; P = .01). CONCLUSION: There is a low incidence of occult metastasis in postradiated recurrent or second primary oral cavity and oropharyngeal tumors. Elective neck dissection and occult nodal metastases were not associated with regional or overall survival. This series may help surgeons make decisions regarding the extent of neck surgery after prior radiation, especially when free flap reconstruction is required.

Safety of the "incidental" neck dissection or exploration during free tissue transfer after head and neck irradiation.

IMPORTANCE: Patients with either local recurrence of head and neck cancer or osteoradionecrosis after prior radiation treatment often require free tissue transfer for optimal reconstruction. In this setting, neck exploration for vessels is necessary, and an "incidental" neck dissection is often accomplished despite clinically negative cervical lymph nodes. While neck surgery in the post-radiated setting is technically challenging, the safety of post-radiated elective neck dissection or neck exploration for vessels is not well-studied, especially for patients undergoing non-laryngectomy salvage resections. OBJECTIVE: To define intraoperative and postoperative surgical complications for patients undergoing elective neck dissection or exploration with free tissue transfer reconstruction in the post-radiated setting, with attention to complications from neck surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. Patient charts from May 2005 to April 2020 were reviewed. SETTING: Tertiary care referral center. PARTICIPANTS: Patients underwent free tissue transfer after prior head and neck irradiation for non-laryngeal local cancer recurrence or second primary, osteoradionecrosis, or for sole reconstructive purposes. Patients with clinically positive neck disease were excluded. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Intraoperative and postoperative complications including unplanned vessel or nerve injury, hematoma, chyle leak, wound dehiscence, wound infection, fistula formation, flap failure, and perioperative medical complications. Neck exploration and neck dissection patient outcomes were compared by Fisher exact test. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients (56 men and 16 women) of average age sixty-one (range 34-89) were identified with average follow-up 25.7 months. Most patients (78%) underwent salvage neck dissection, and the rest underwent neck exploration for vessels only. There were five intraoperative neck complications: three vessel injuries and two nerve injuries. There were twenty-six postoperative surgical complications among eighteen patients. There was no difference in surgical complications whether patients underwent neck dissection or exploration only. Two partial and two complete flap failures occurred. There were nine perioperative medical complications among six patients. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Elective neck dissection or exploration among patients undergoing free tissue transfer in the post-radiated setting carries a risk of both intraoperative and postoperative surgical complications. The present study defines risk of complications and helps to inform patient discussions for risk of complications in the post-radiated setting.

A rare case of a middle ear glomangioma.

Glomus tumors are benign hyperplasia of glomus bodies, and they are rarely found in the head and neck. The middle ear is an exceptionally rare site for a true glomus tumor, and there are only three previously reported cases in this location. Glomus tumors are etiologically different than glomus tympanicum, which are paragangliomas of the middle ear that are often mistakenly referred to as "glomus tumors." This is a common misconception due to the "glomus" misnomer. We report a case of a patient diagnosed with a middle ear glomangioma after initially presenting to our clinic with tinnitus and hearing loss. The mass was surgically removed through a transcanal approach with carbon dioxide laser and sharp dissection. Literature review is also reported and revealed similar presentations in patients with middle ear glomangiomas.

NOD-like Receptors in the Eye: Uncovering Its Role in Diabetic Retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is an ocular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). International Diabetic Federations (IDF) estimates up to 629 million people with DM by the year 2045 worldwide. Nearly 50% of DM patients will show evidence of diabetic-related eye problems. Therapeutic interventions for DR are limited and mostly involve surgical intervention at the late-stages of the disease. The lack of early-stage diagnostic tools and therapies, especially in DR, demands a better understanding of the biological processes involved in the etiology of disease progression. The recent surge in literature associated with NOD-like receptors (NLRs) has gained massive attraction due to their involvement in mediating the innate immune response and perpetuating inflammatory pathways, a central phenomenon found in the pathogenesis of ocular diseases including DR. The NLR family of receptors are expressed in different eye tissues during pathological conditions suggesting their potential roles in dry eye, ocular infection, retinal ischemia, cataract, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular edema (DME) and DR. Our group is interested in studying the critical early components involved in the immune cell infiltration and inflammatory pathways involved in the progression of DR. Recently, we reported that NLRP3 inflammasome might play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of DR. This comprehensive review summarizes the findings of NLRs expression in the ocular tissues with special emphasis on its presence in the retinal microglia and DR pathogenesis.