Retrospective Study on Postoperative Maxillofacial and Cervical Hematoma after Reconstruction with Free Flap following Head and Neck Ablative Surgery in Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

doi:10.13701/j.cnki.kqyxyj.2026.01.004

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: To review the associated risk of postoperative hematoma after retrospective analysis on patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma after ablative and reconstructive surgery. Methods: An observational and retrospective analysis of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma was designed to report the incidence of hematoma in patients undergoing functional neck dissection, radical resection of oral cancer, and repair with free flap in Nanjing Stomoligical Hospital between September 2020 and September 2024. The demographic variables, preoperative laboratory data, and related operative variables were analyzed. Results: A total of 239 patients were finally included, 20 cases had maxillofacial and cervical hematoma, with an incidence rate of 8.3%. There were statistically significant differences in the clinical stage, lymph node metastasis rate, operative time, intraoperative blood transfusion, and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) between the hematoma group and the non-hematoma group (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that intraoperative blood transfusion was an independent predictor of maxillofacial and cervical hematoma. Conclusion: Intraoperative blood transfusion can serve as an indicator for predicting postoperative hematoma in the maxillofacial and neck regions following radical resection of oral cancer combined with free flap reconstruction.

Key words: oral squamous cell carcinoma, free flap, hematoma

CAO Yazhou, XIA Chengwan, KE Xiaojing. Retrospective Study on Postoperative Maxillofacial and Cervical Hematoma after Reconstruction with Free Flap following Head and Neck Ablative Surgery in Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma[J]. Journal of Oral Science Research, 2026, 42(1): 17-21.

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