title: Donor site morbidity after scapular tip free flaps in head-and-neck reconstruction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently, the scapular tip free flap has been popularized as a valuable option for bone reconstruction of the head and neck area. Analyses of perioperative and long-time morbidity are crucial to enable complete comprehension of this technique and will be presented in this paper.
  
  
  METHODS
  Perioperative and long-term morbidity of scapular tip flaps harvesting were analyzed in a cohort of 19 patients. Local complications and ambulation-time were used to assess perioperative results, while Constant-Murley and DASH scores were used to evaluate long-term morbidity on shoulder functions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Local perioperative complications were minimal (three cases of seroma and two wound dehiscence). Ambulation time ranged between 2 and 4 days (mean 2.7 days). Constant-Murley scores ranged between 66 and 100 (mean 92.2). The DASH score ranged between 39 and 85 (mean 48.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Harvesting a scapular tip free flap resulted in very low shoulder morbidity, without interfering the patient's daily activities. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 35:447-450, 2015.
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-Facial Surgery Division, Head and Neck Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-Facial Surgery Division, Head and Neck Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferri
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-Facial Surgery Division, Head and Neck Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Bernardo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-Facial Surgery Division, Head and Neck Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varazzani
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-Facial Surgery Division, Head and Neck Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perlangeli
authors.affiliation: Maxillo-Facial Surgery Division, Head and Neck Department, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sesenna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012540:Scapula / Q000637:transplantation*; D049291:Seroma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology