The fate of the free flap pedicle after free tissue transfer to the head and neck area.

Objectives: Little is understood about what happens to the vascular pedicle following free tissue transfer in the head and neck region. The viability of a free flap completely depends on the vascular supply by its vascular pedicle until neovascularization occurs from surrounding tissues. The aim of this study is to find out how long a vascular pedicle lasts following free tissue transfer in the head and neck region.