Answer:
Chick et al. reviewed their experience with free flaps in patients between the ages of 65 and 90 and compared it to patients below the age of 65. Wound-healing complications were seen in equal proportions between groups. The rates of medical complications were higher in the elderly group. However after correcting for the presence of preexisting medical conditions, no significant differences were seen between the two groups. They concluded that age alone is not a variable in risk for free tissue transfers. Similar results were seen by Malata et al. who reported on their results with patients above the age of 70 years old. In this study the overall flap success rate was 95 percent. Only Bonawitz et al. found a significant difference in primary coverage rates for patients over the age of 60. In their study elderly patients had a primary coverage rate of 68 versus 85 percent, but the eventual coverage rate was not significantly different: 92 versus 96 percent.