(1) Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) after head and neck free-flap reconstruction are a common postoperative complication. Risk factors for HAIs in this context and their consequences have not been adequately described. (2) Methods: Ongoing prospective multicentre study between 02/2019 and 12/2020. Demographic characteristics and outcomes were analysed, focusing on infections. (3) Results: Forty out of 65 patients (61.54%) suffered HAIs (surgical site infection: 52.18%, nosocomial pneumonia: 23.20%, bloodstream infection: 13% and urinary tract infection: 5.80%). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae were the most frequently implicated. The significant risk factors for infection were: previous radiotherapy (Odds ratio (OR): 5.42; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.39–21.10), anaemia (OR: 8.00; 95% CI, 0.96–66.95), salvage surgery (eight out of eight patients), tracheostomy (OR: 2.86; 95% CI, 1.01–8.14), surgery duration (OR: 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00–1.02), microvascular reoperation <72 h (eight/eight) and flap loss (eight/eight). The major surgical complications were: a need to reoperate (OR: 6.89; 95% CI, 1.42–33.51), prolonged hospital admission (OR: 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06–1.27) and delay in the initiation of postoperative radiotherapy (OR: 9.07; 95% CI, 1.72–47.67). The sixth month mortality rate in patients with HAIs was 7.69% vs. 0% in patients without HAIs (p = 0.50). (4) Conclusions: HAIs were common after this type of surgery, many of them caused by resistant microorganisms. Some modifiable risk factors were identified. Infections played a role in cancer prognosis by delaying adjuvant therapy.

Background: PD1 and its ligand PD-L1 are related to prognosis in many solid tumors; however, their role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unclear. Methods: A retrospective monocentric study including all patients with OSCC diagnosed and treated between January 2020 and May 2022 was performed. PD-L1 expression was assessed per a combined positive score (CPS), considering a CPS of > or equal to 1 as positive (1–20 indicating “low expression” and ≥20 indicating “high”). A descriptive analysis of the patient cohort and tumors was performed, including tumor size, stage, lymph node involvement, recurrence, and survival. Results: In total, 65 patients (65 tumors) were analyzed. A total of 66.15% of the tumors were in advanced stages (III-IV), of which 97.67% expressed PD-L1+, compared with 71.42% in the early stages (I–II). T4 tumors expressed PD-L1 in 100% of cases, compared with 54% in T1 tumors. A total of 50.79% of the tumors showed lymph node involvement (pN+), with 100% of the pN+ showing PD-L1+. The prevalence of pN+ was 59.38% vs. 40.63% for high vs. low PD-L1 expression, respectively. Patients’ follow-ups ranged from 2 to 34.5 months. No significant difference was seen between overall survival (OS) and PD-L1 +/− (CPS ≥ 1 vs. CPS < 1) or high (CPS ≥ 20) and low (CPS < 20) PD-L1 expression (p < 0.97 and 0.64, respectively). Conclusions: The method used to measure PD-L1 (a laboratory test with Dako 22C3 anti-PD-L1 primary antibodies) was reliable and accurate, with a correlation coefficient between PD-L1 expression in the biopsy and the surgical piece of 0.83 (p < 0.0001). A CPS of ≥1 was observed in large tumors (p < 0.001) and was correlated with that of lymph node metastases (p < 0.004). Further analysis of PD-L1 expression in OSCC and studies to determine its relevance in tumor biology and prognosis is needed.

Presentar nuestra serie clínica de colgajos de perforantes basados en la arteria sural medial revisando las indicaciones, las características del colgajo y las complicaciones asociadas. Análisis retrospectivo de 25 pacientes con defectos de cavidad oral y orofaringe reconstruidos con colgajo sural medial desde 2010 hasta 2013 en el Servicio de Cirugía Oral y Maxilofacial del Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre de Madrid. El rango de edad fue de los 18 a los 82 años, siendo la edad media de 56,6 años. En cuanto a la distribución por sexos 14 eran varones y 11 mujeres. De los 25 colgajos realizados 15 fueron del miembro inferior izquierdo y 10 del derecho. La longitud media del pedículo fue de 11,21 cm (7-16 cm). En 8 casos presentaban 2 perforantes. No se evidenció ninguna perforante a menos de 8 cm del pliegue poplíteo. El tamaño de la isla cutánea varió según las necesidades del defecto, entre 4 y 12 cm de largo y de 2,5 a 6 cm de ancho, con una media de 9,63 × 4,94 cm. El cierre de la zona donante fue directo, sin precisar en ningún caso injerto dermoepidérmico. Dos colgajos presentaron necrosis total del mismo. Dos pacientes presentaron celulitis y dehiscencia parcial de la herida quirúrgica en miembro inferior, que evolucionó favorablemente con tratamiento antibiótico y curas locales. El colgajo de perforantes de la arteria sural medial es una excelente opción en la reconstrucción de defectos de la cavidad oral y la orofaringe, proporcionándonos una adecuada adaptabilidad a la zona receptora y una mínima morbilidad de la zona donante. To present a clinical series of medial sural artery perforator flaps, including a review of its applications, characteristics, and related complications. A retrospective study was conducted on 25 patients who underwent oral cavity and oropharynx reconstruction with medial sural artery perforator flap from 2010 to 2013 in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department of the 12 de Octubre University Hospital (Madrid, Spain). The ages ranged from 18 to 82 years (mean 56.6), with 14 males and 11 females. Of the 25 harvested flaps, 15 were from the left lower limb and 10 from the right. The mean pedicle length was 11.21 cm (7-16 cm). There were 2 perforations in 8 cases, but with no evidence of perforations less than 8 cm away from the popliteal crease. The size of the skin paddle varied according to the defect, from 4 to 12 cm long and 2.5 to 6 cm wide, with a mean of 9.63 × 4.94. Direct closure of the donor site was performed in all cases with no skin graft needed. Two flap failures were reported. Two patients had inflammation and partial dehiscence of the surgical wound in the lower limb, with good results after local and antibiotic treatment. The medial sural artery perforator flap is an excellent alternative in oral cavity and oropharynx reconstruction, providing great adaptability to the defect and minimal donor site morbidity.

Background: PD1 and its ligand PD-L1 are related to the prognosis in many solid tumors, whether its role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains unclear. Methods: Retrospective monocentric study including all patients with OSCC diagnosed and treated between 01/2020 and 05/2022. PD-L1 expression was assessed by combined positive score (CPS), considering CPS > or equal to 1 as positive (1-20 “low expression”, and ≥20 “high”). Descriptive analysis of patient cohort and tumors was performed, including tumor size, stage, lymph node involvement, recur-rence and survival. Results: 65 patients (65 tumors) were analyzed. 66.15% of tumors were ad-vanced stages (III-IV), of them, 97.67% PD-L1+ versus 71.42% within early stages (I-II). T4 tumors expressed PD-L1 in 100% of cases, compared with 54’54% in T1 tumors. 50.79 % of tumors showed lymph node involvement (pN+), 100% of them showing PD-L1+. Prevalence of pN+ was 59.38% for PD-L1 high expression versus 40.63% for low expression. Patients' follow-up ranged from 2 to 34.5 months. No significant difference was seen between overall survival (OS) and PD-L1 +/- (CPS ≥1 vs CPS <1) neither PD-L1 high (CPS ≥20) vs low CPS <20) (p 0.97 and 0.64, re-spectively). Conclusions: The method used to measure (laboratory test with Dako 22C3 an-ti-PD-L1 primary antibody) PD-L1 was reliable and accurate, with a correlation coefficient be-tween the PD-L1 expression in the biopsy and surgical piece of 0.83 (p 0.0001). CPS≥1 was ob-served in large tumors (p<0.001), and was correlated with of lymph node metastases (p<0.004). Further analysis of PD-L1 expression and its relevance in tumor biology and prognosis is needed.