Allen RJ

[BACKGROUND] Obesity is a known risk factor for surgical complications, but its impact on mandibular reconstruction with fibula free flap (FFF) remains unclear. This study examines the association between body mass index (BMI) and postopera…

[BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES] Tumor involvement of the posterior mandible often requires resection of the mandibular condyle and associated soft tissue. This study explores clinical and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) associated with condyle…

Abdominally based free flap breast reconstruction offers excellent long-term outcomes, but donor-site morbidity remains a concern. Lower back pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition that may impair core stability and abdominal donor-s…

[BACKGROUND] Patients undergoing abdominal-based free flap breast reconstruction are at risk for perioperative venous thromboembolism (VTE), but the optimal anticoagulation protocol remains unknown. We hypothesized that a standardized chemo…

[INTRODUCTION] This study aimed to develop and validate an aesthetic grading tool (AGT) for bilateral DIEP flap breast reconstruction and investigate the correlation of BREAST-Q scores with perceived aesthetic outcomes. [METHODS] The AGT u…

[BACKGROUND] Patients with or at risk for breast cancer may opt for risk-reducing gynecologic surgeries, including bilateral salpingo-oophorectomies and/or total abdominal hysterectomy. The timing and safety of combining these procedures wi…

[BACKGROUND] Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols can reduce the length of stay (LOS) for surgical patients, including those undergoing unilateral deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction, all…

Composite defects of the scalp and calvarium are complex reconstructive problems. Bony reconstruction is often achieved with synthetic implants, demanding robust soft tissue coverage. In cases where the native scalp has been compromised, fr…

[BACKGROUND] The fibula free flap (FFF) is a common choice for mandibular reconstruction after post-oncologic resection. Advances in technology and surgical technique have changed the workflow of FFF-based mandible reconstruction. This stud…

[BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE] Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality in surgical patients, with individuals undergoing abdominal-based free flap breast reconstruction representing a particul…

In oncologic breast reconstruction, autologous techniques have been demonstrated to provide patients with improved long-term outcomes and fewer complications than implant-based techniques, especially in the setting of adjunct therapies. Whi…

[INTRODUCTION] In 1863, Dr John Wood published the use of the pedicled superficial inferior epigastric artery (SIEA) flap for reconstruction of a forearm burn scar contracture. The first successful cutaneous free flap reported by Taylor and…

[BACKGROUND] Prepectoral tissue expander (TE) placement for two-stage postmastectomy reconstruction is usually performed in conjunction with insertion of acellular dermal matrix (ADM). However, the effects of ADM use on TE loss or other ear…

[BACKGROUND] When abdomen-based free flap reconstruction is contraindicated, the muscle-sparing thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flap may be considered for total autologous breast reconstruction. The TDAP flap is often limited by volu…

[BACKGROUND] The choice of tissue type for free flap reconstruction of posterolateral mandible resections is dependent on patient and defect characteristics. We compared clinical and patient-reported outcomes following reconstruction of the…

[BACKGROUND] There is a lack of literature of health-related quality of life endpoints for radial forearm (RF) versus anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap reconstruction for glossectomy defects. Our goal was to perform a comprehensive evalua…

[BACKGROUND] This study aims to explore the ideal breast size by assessing the relationship between mastectomy to free flap weight ratio and complications as well as patient-reported outcomes in autologous breast reconstruction (ABR). [MET…

The evolution of imaging actively shapes clinical management in the field. Ultrasonography (US), computed tomography angiography (CTA), and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) stand out as the most extensively researched imaging modalities…

[BACKGROUND]  A comprehensive understanding of changes in health-related quality of life after head and neck cancer surgery is necessary for effective preoperative counseling. The goal of this study was to perform a longitudinal analysis of…

[BACKGROUND] With the rising popularity of the deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap in breast reconstruction, use of the superficial inferior epigastric vein (SIEV) to augment venous outflow has been proposed as a strategy to pre…

[BACKGROUND] The delay procedure in deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction, in which the reduced-caliber choke vessels play a major role, can provide more well-perfused tissue than a standard DIEP flap.…

[BACKGROUND] One option to optimize prepectoral tissue expander fill volume while minimizing stress on mastectomy skin flaps is to use air as an initial fill medium, with subsequent exchange to saline during postoperative expansion. The aut…

The thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flap has a long vascular pedicle that is ideal for lower extremity reconstruction, but it generally relies on the presence of a dominant septocutaneous perforator vessel. Surgical delay optimizes f…

Autologous free flap breast reconstruction allows for natural-appearing breasts, while avoiding the risks associated with implants, including exposure, rupture, and capsular contracture. However, this is offset by a much higher technical ch…

Breast cancer is currently the most common cancer in female patients in the United States and around the world, with over 2 million new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in 2020. Subsequently, breast reconstruction after mastectomy is also b…

Autologous reconstruction accounts for nearly one-quarter of all breast reconstruction cases in the United States, with the abdomen functioning as the most popular donor site. This case describes a 62-year-old woman who presented to our cli…

[BACKGROUND]  Little is known about the risk factors associated with complications after free flap scalp reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to identify patient, scalp defect, and flap characteristics associated with increased ris…

[OBJECTIVE] Pedicled flaps (PFs) have historically served as the preferred option for reconstruction of large chest wall defects. More recently, the indications for microvascular-free flaps (MVFFs) have increased, particularly for defects i…

[BACKGROUND] Radiation therapy is increasingly used after breast cancer surgery, which may impact patients' postoperative quality of life. This study assessed differences in long-term patient satisfaction and health-related quality of life …