Table 1 Custom search strategy for each database

MEDLINE via PubMed

(microvascular OR composite flap OR microvascular transplant) AND (Fibula) AND (maxillofacial OR oral cavity)

395

Web of Science Core Collection

((ALL = (microvascular OR composite)) AND ALL = (fibula)) AND TS = (oral OR maxillofacial OR mandib? OR maxill?)

353

Embase

#1 'microvascularization'/exp OR 'microvascularization' OR 'composite flap'/exp OR 'composite flap' 3768

#2 ('fibula'/exp OR 'fibula' OR fibular) 24239

#3 'mouth cavity'/exp OR 'mouth cavity' OR 'maxillofacial injury'/exp OR 'maxillofacial injury' 109794

#4 #1 AND #2 AND #3

26

Scopus

ALL ( microvascular OR composite) AND TITLE-ABS-KEY ( fibula) AND TITLE-ABS-KEY ( maxillofacial AND injury OR maxillofacial AND trauma OR maxillofacial AND reconstruction)

287

Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials

#1 microvascular anastomosis 62

#2 microvascular 4444

#3 fibular 326

#4 maxillofacial 5248

#5 oral 239600

#6 (#1 OR #2) AND #3 AND (#4 OR #5)4

4

Total

1065