Systematic Review of Supraclavicular Artery Island Flap vs Free Flap in Head and Neck Reconstruction

ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review is to compare the surgical outcomes of supraclavicular artery island flap (SCAIF) and free tissue transfer (FTT) in head and neck reconstruction.Data SourcesPubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases.Review MethodsIndependent screening and data extraction were performed by 2 authors. Only studies that directly compared SCAIF and FTT were included. Data were pooled with random-effects meta-analysis to determine the standardized mean differences (SMDs), risk differences, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistics. The Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies tool was used to evaluate extent of bias in studies.ResultsThe initial query yielded 661 results, of which 4 comparative studies remained for final analysis. The pooled sample sizes for the SCAIF and FTT cohorts were 100 and 84, respectively. SCAIF was associated with reduction of operative time by a large effect size (SMD, 1.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.78...