Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40298063›Full record

ArticleOtolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery2025

Predictive Factors of Free Flap Volume Evolution in Head and Neck Reconstruction.

Quentin Hennocq, Jean-Baptiste Caruhel, Mourad Benassarou, Jebrane Bouaoud, André Chaine, Angélique Girod, Nicolas Graillon, Sylvie Testelin, Mélika Amor-Sahli, Jean-Philippe Foy and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Quentin HennocqSorbonne University, Paris, France.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7882-8287
Jean-Baptiste CaruhelDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sainte Anne Military Hospital, Toulon, France.
Mourad BenassarouDepartment of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.
Jebrane BouaoudSorbonne University, Paris, France.
André ChaineDepartment of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.
Angélique GirodDepartment of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.
Nicolas GraillonDepartment of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Marseille (APHM), Conception University Hospital, Marseille, France.
Sylvie TestelinMaxillofacial Surgery Department, Amiens University Hospital, Amiens, France.
Mélika Amor-SahliAPHP-Neuroradiology Department, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Jean-Philippe FoySorbonne University, Paris, France.
Chloé BertolusSorbonne University, Paris, France.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe aim of our study was to determine the factors influencing the evolution of the total volume and bone volume of free flaps commonly used in head and neck surgery, with a 30-month prospective study, to establish volume change predictions and thus propose a degree of overcorrection to be expected before reconstruction. STUDY

designWe prospectively included all consecutive free flap.

settingOur maxillofacial surgery department between August 2021 and January 2024.

methodsWe collected information on preoperative, per-operative, and postoperative factors, on patients, surgical techniques, and adjuvant treatments. We measured on each postoperative imaging the overall flap volume and bone volume if applicable. Multivariate mixed models were then used to select clinical parameters associated with volume loss.

resultsWe included 166 flaps, performed on 155 patients. The mean age was 60.1 ± 15.1 years. A total of 634 imagings were segmented (487 computed tomography [CT] scans, 77%; 147 magnetic resonance imagings [MRIs], 23%). The use of the superior thyroid or lingual veins for venous anastomosis, such as the use of small couplers, resulted in negative volume changes. Predicted bone volumes decreased by 23% at 30 months for deep circumflex iliac artery (DCIA) free flaps, 19% for fibula free flap (FFF), and 38% for scapular system free flap (SFF).

conclusionThese findings allow us to envisage a volume overcorrection of around 60% for fasciocutaneous or osteocutaneous flaps, and 75% for muscle or osteomuscular flaps. The choice of vein and microsurgical technique seems to have more impact on the evolution of free flap volume than patient characteristics or adjuvant treatments.

Indexed as

Free Tissue FlapsHead and Neck NeoplasmsPlastic Surgery ProceduresAdultAgedFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesTomography, X-Ray ComputedCT scansflap contourflap volumefree flaphead and neckMRIreconstruction

Identifiers

PMID40298063
PMCPMC12379861

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.