Prognostic value of the 5-Item Modified Frailty Index in elderly patients undergoing free flap reconstruction for head and neck cancer.

The 5-item Modified Frailty Index is a simple and clinically useful tool for identifying older head and neck cancer patients at increased risk of adverse outcomes following major surgery.

Its incorporation into preoperative risk assessment may improve surgical decision-making and perioperative planning by better stratifying risk and guiding resource allocation.