Durham JS

[BACKGROUND] Bony nonunion is an important complication in head and neck reconstruction, but its definition, incidence, and treatment are not well-reported. [METHODS] MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and Web of Science were searched from October …

[BACKGROUND] In 2018, an initiative at the authors' institution aimed at reducing routine prophylactic tracheostomies for head and neck reconstructions with free flaps was implemented. Discussion between the surgical team and anesthesia abo…

[IMPORTANCE] The closure technique for the radial forearm free flap (RFFF), a commonly utilized flap in head and neck reconstruction, remains a debated topic as there are unique advantages and drawbacks to each technique. [OBJECTIVE] The p…

[OBJECTIVES] The objectives of the study are twofold: 1) to propose a set of criteria for virtually evaluating different types of reconstructions for mandibular defects during surgical planning, and 2) to prospectively apply the criteria to…

[BACKGROUND] Virtual surgical planning (VSP) with simple cutting templates could help surgeons preoperatively plan scapula reconstructions in the vertical and horizontal orientations. [METHODS] Virtually, eight defects were created in ten …

[OBJECTIVES] The objectives of the study are: 1) to analyze the factors associated with post-operative placement of gastrostomy tube (G-tube) in head and neck reconstruction patients, and 2) to create a simple scoring system that can predic…

[BACKGROUND] This study compares patient-reported functional and aesthetic outcomes of split-thickness skin graft (STSG) versus hatchet flap closure of radial forearm free flap (RFFF) donor site. [METHODS] Patients with RFFF (2015-2020) we…

[BACKGROUND] The study's objective is to assess the feasibility and utility of VSP for maxillary reconstruction with the scapular free flap. [METHODS] An open-source VSP platform was used to create the reconstruction models and simple guid…

[BACKGROUND] The scapula free flap is a versatile option in head and neck reconstruction but is less amenable to simultaneous harvest and ablation. [METHODS] Retrospective series (2015-2021) of consecutive scapula flaps. Cases categorized …

[OBJECTIVES] Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a progressive congenital disorder that predisposes patients to squamous cell cancers (SCC) of the head and neck. We report a case of a patient who underwent primary osteocutaneous free flap for ma…

[BACKGROUND] Fibular (FFF) and scapular free flaps (SFF) are versatile tissue transfers for head and neck reconstruction. However, their relative morbidity has been sparsely studied. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the morbid…

[BACKGROUND] This study virtually compares patient-specific fibular and scapular reconstructions for maxillectomies. [METHODS] Nine maxillectomy defects were created on 10 maxillas and virtually reconstructed with patient-specific fibulas …

Recent advances in free-tissue transfer have given the otolaryngologist--head and neck surgeon a number of reliable options for reconstruction of the oral cavity following ablative procedures. One recent modification has been the transfer o…