title: Comparison of negative pressure wound therapy and conventional dressing methods for fibula free flap donor site management in patients with head and neck cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evaluation of the efficacy of negative pressure wound therapy in fibula free flap donor site management in head and neck cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a single-center retrospective study from 2007 to 2013 comparing fibula free flap donor site healing time after conventional bolster dressing or negative pressure wound therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen patients were treated by conventional dressing and 16 patients were treated by negative pressure wound therapy. The mean graft loss rate was higher in the bolster group (37%) than in the negative pressure wound therapy group (19%). The mean total healing time was significantly shorter in the negative pressure wound therapy group than in the bolster group (67 days vs 163 days; p = .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of negative pressure wound therapy for fibula free flap donor site management facilitates early patient mobilization, ensures better graft acceptance, and significantly decreases the healing time.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Foch, Service de Chirurgie ORL et Cervico-faciale, Suresnes, Paris, France.|Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin en Yvelines, UFR de Médecine Paris Ouest Saint-Quentin en Yvelines, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Foch, Service de Chirurgie ORL et Cervico-faciale, Suresnes, Paris, France.|Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin en Yvelines, UFR de Médecine Paris Ouest Saint-Quentin en Yvelines, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Lia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guilleré
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Foch, Service de Chirurgie ORL et Cervico-faciale, Suresnes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Sinasi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Foch, Service de Chirurgie ORL et Cervico-faciale, Suresnes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Foch, Service de Radiologie, Suresnes, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Darmon
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Foch, Service de Chirurgie ORL et Cervico-faciale, Suresnes, Paris, France.|Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin en Yvelines, UFR de Médecine Paris Ouest Saint-Quentin en Yvelines, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chabolle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001458:Bandages; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000601:surgery; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: fibula free flap donor site head and neck cancer; negative pressure wound therapy; split-thickness skin graft dressing