Pediatric Free Flaps: Indications, Considerations, and Follow-up.

Free tissue transfer is a very effective reconstructive technique for challenging defects of the head and neck and in many cases the gold standard for congenital facial paralyses and composite defects. Although its use in the pediatric population is not new and the success rates are comparable to those in adults, there is still a lack of information about its applications in children. This study aims to review the indications for use and discuss the anatomic considerations that may influence surgical complexity and long-term outcomes in the developing craniofacial skeleton.