Prognostic Nutritional Index is a Predictor of Free Flap Failure in Extremity Reconstruction

The nutritional condition of patients is an important prognostic factor in various diseases. Free flap failure is a serious complication in patients undergoing free flap reconstruction, increasing morbidity and hospital costs. We evaluated the predictive factors, including the prognostic nutritional index (PNI), associated with free flap failure in extremity reconstruction. The PNI was calculated as follows: 10 × serum albumin (g/dL) + 0.005 × total lymphocyte count (per mm3), with a PNI p = 0.031) and a low PNI (odds ratio: 3.859; p p