Table 2. Complications of included studies.

Study		Kao et al (2009) 16	Song et al (2015) 17	Zhao et al (2017) 18	Ng et al (2021) 19	Total ( n )
Recipient-site complication, n (%)
Dehiscence	MSAP	1 of 18 (5.6)	0 (0)	NR	0 (0)	1
	Comparator	4 of 29 (13.8)	NR	NR	1 of 10 (10)	5
Infection	MSAP	NR	0 (0)	NR	NR	0
	Comparator	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR
Fistula	MSAP	1 of 18 (5.6)	0 (0)	NR	NR	1
	Comparator	0 (0)	NR	NR	NR	0
Hematoma	MSAP	0 (0)	0 (0)	NR	NR	0
	Comparator	1 of 29 (3.5)	NR	NR	NR	1
Venous congestion	MSAP	NR	2 of 24 (8.3)	1 of 25 (4)	NR	3
	Comparator	NR	NR	RFFF: 1 of 38 (2.6); ALT: 0 (0)	NR	1
Arterial insufficiency	MSAP	NR	NR	0 (0)	NR	0
	Comparator	NR	NR	0 (0)	NR	0
Partial flap loss	MSAP	0 (0)	1 of 24 (4.2)	0 (0)	1 of 10 (10)	2
	Comparator	1 of 18 (5.6)	NR	0 (0)	0 (0)	1
Flap failure	MSAP	0 (0)	1 of 24 (4.2)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1
	Comparator	0 (0)	NR	0 (0)	0 (0)	0
Other	MSAP	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR
	Comparator	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR
Total recipient-site complication rate	MSAP					8 of 77 (10.4%)
	Comparator					8 of 134 (6.0%)
Donor-site complication, n (%)
Dehiscence	MSAP	NR	0 (0)	1 (4)	NR	1
	Comparator	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR
Altered sensation	MSAP	3 of 18 (6)	NR	NR	0 (0)	3
	Comparator	23 of 29 (79.3)	NR	NR	3 (30)	26 (RFFF)
Delayed healing	MSAP	NR	0 (0)	1 (4)	NR	1
	Comparator	NR	NR	0 (0)	NR	0
Infection	MSAP	NR	NR	NR	1 of 10 (10)	1
	Comparator	NR	NR	NR	0 (0)	0
Hematoma	MSAP	NR	NR	NR	0 (0)	0
	Comparator	NR	NR	NR	1 of 10 (10)	1
Total donor-site complication rate	MSAP					6 of 77 (7.8%)
	Comparator					27 of 134 (20.2%)

Abbreviations: ALT, anterior lateral thigh; MSAP, medial sural artery perforator; NR, not reported; RFFF, radial forearm free flap.

Note: Results are presented as number of flaps. Values in parentheses are percentages.