title: Donor-site morbidity after fibula free flap transfer: a comparison of subjective evaluation using a visual analogue scale and point evaluation system.
abstract: The aims of this study were: (1) to compare the visual analogue scale (VAS) with the point evaluation system (PES) in the subjective evaluation of donor-site morbidity after fibula free flap transfer; (2) to compare the functional outcomes of fibula free flap surgery between patients with a normal body mass index (BMI) and patients with a high BMI, and between skin paddle and non-skin paddle harvesting; and (3) to determine the correlation between functional outcomes and related factors. This study included 15 patients who underwent a vascularized fibula free flap transfer for oral and maxillofacial reconstruction. Demographic data, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were collected. Subjective self-evaluation of functional outcomes was done using a VAS followed by a PES. Comparison of the VAS and PES scores was assessed with Pearson's correlation coefficient. The statistical significance was set at P<0.05. The VAS score was significantly correlated with the PES score (r=0.63, P=0.01). The tourniquet times for the skin paddle group were longer than for the non-skin paddle group (P=0.02), while the satisfaction score of the non-skin paddle group was higher than that of the skin paddle group (P=0.03). The VAS is a potential option for the subjective evaluation of donor-site morbidity after fibula free flap transfer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand. pichai.v@hotmail.com
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vittayakittipong
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D064592:Autografts / Q000637:transplantation*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps / Q000637:transplantation*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061646:Operative Time; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000209:etiology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D061525:Perforator Flap / Q000637:transplantation; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods; D014111:Tourniquets; D060053:Transplant Donor Site / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult