title: Risk Factors for Early and Late Donor-Site Morbidity After Free Fibula Flap Harvest.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article reports on the incidence of donor-site complications and identifies predictive factors for early and late donor-site complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2007 through December 2012, 45 patients underwent free fibula flap reconstruction and their medical records were reviewed. They were asked to complete a questionnaire on the operated leg and they were evaluated for ankle stability and ambulatory status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One patient (2.2%) developed a complication owing to a hematoma, but no other patients had any complications. During the risk factor analysis, no domain was found to be statistically associated with early morbidity; late dysfunction was noted in 20 patients (57.1%), and of these cases, at least 2 symptoms were found in 10 patients (50%). The most common complication was numbness followed by toe contracture and abnormal ambulatory movement. During the risk analysis, the following domains affected late donor-site morbidity: harvested fibula length, operation time, and follow-up time. Furthermore, in cases with complications, patients with the osteocutaneous fibula flap complained more than patients with the osseous flap (P = .07).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early donor-site morbidity was uncommon, but late morbidity occurred frequently. Harvested fibula length, operation time, and follow-up time were statistically linked to postoperative function.
authors: Resident, Department of Head Neck and Thyroid Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
authors: Peng
authors: P
authors: Li
authors: Resident, Department of Head Neck and Thyroid Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China. Electronic address: qigenfang@126.com.
authors: Qigen
authors: Q
authors: Fang
authors: Department Head, Department of Head Neck and Thyroid Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
authors: Jinxing
authors: J
authors: Qi
authors: Professor, Department of Head Neck and Thyroid Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
authors: Ruihua
authors: R
authors: Luo
authors: Department Head, Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
authors: Changfu
authors: C
authors: Sun
mesh_terms: D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005360:Fibula; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014019:Tissue Donors