Summary
Purpose
We examined whether there were any differences in perioperative complications between
patients who mobilized on the first postoperative day (early mobilization) and those
who mobilized on the second postoperative day after head and neck reconstruction using
free tissue transfer.
Methods
In the control group (n = 74), patients were instructed to mobilize on the second postoperative day (April
2019–March 2020), while in the early mobilization group (n = 101), patients were instructed to mobilize on the first postoperative day (April
2020–March 2021). Mobilization was defined as maintaining a standing position or walking.
Clinical data were collected from medical records and retrospectively analyzed.
Results
There were no significant differences in clinical background factors, with the exception
of intraoperative blood loss volume. The proportion of patients who successfully mobilized
on the day of instruction was significantly lower in the early mobilization group
(89.1% vs. 98.7%). One case of total flap loss and four cases of partial flap loss
occurred in the control group, and three cases of partial flap loss occurred in the
early mobilization group. There was no significant difference in partial or total
flap loss between the two groups. There were no significant differences in other perioperative
complications (wound infection, postoperative bleeding, and delirium) between the
two groups. The median postoperative hospital stay was 24.5 and 25.0 days in the control
and early mobilization groups, respectively.
Conclusion
In this study, early mobilization on the first day after head and neck free flap reconstruction
was safe and feasible.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 23, 2022
Accepted:
August 16,
2022
Received:
March 29,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
