The COVID-19 Pandemic Consequences on Microsurgical Reconstructions: A Single Center’s Shift of Indications

BACKGROUND: Since its outbreak, the COVID-19-pandemic has had a tremendous impact on healthcare systems worldwide. We conducted a comparative study to analyze the pandemic’s consequence on microsurgical reconstructions at a reconstructive plastic surgery center in Sweden. METHOD: All free flaps performed at a single center between March 2019 and 2021 were analyzed. The patient cohort was divided into two groups, with a period of 1 year in each group: non-COVID-19 year and COVID-19 year. The periods were compared regarding the number and type of surgeries and patient characteristics. RESULTS: In the year prior to the pandemic, 123 free flap surgeries were performed, compared with 103 surgeries during the COVID-19 year. There was a significant shift in the most common site for free flap reconstruction: from the breast [which decreased by 42% (66–38)] to head and neck [which increased by 22% (41–50); OR 0.53 (P = 0.02)]. This was also reflected by a significant increase in hospital stay for free flap patients during the COVID-19 year (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a shift was seen from breast reconstructions toward head and neck reconstructions as the most common free flap procedure performed. An increasing backlog of elective breast reconstructions demands increased resources and tougher priorities, which challenge the healthcare system in the post-COVID-19 era.