Background
A poor evidence basis exists regarding the objective donor site morbidity associated with osseous free flap harvest. This study prospectively assessed the objective donor site morbidity associated with osseous free flap harvest for the fibula, scapula, and iliac crest (DCIA) donor sites.
Methods
A single‐site, prospective cohort clinical research study was conducted. Sixty‐four patients were recruited between 2017 and 2021. Patients were assessed using a donor site specific assessment tool pre‐operatively, and again >12 months post‐operatively.
Results
There was a significant reduction post‐operatively in assessment tool scores compared to the pre‐operative period for the fibula, scapula and DCIA. Females were more likely to report a greater reduction in Harris Hip Score post‐operatively compared to males.
Conclusions
The fibula, scapula, and DCIA donor sites are associated with reduced objective function post‐operatively compared to patient's pre‐operative baseline. The implications are least pronounced for the fibula.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.