title: The neurocutaneous free fibula flap in mandibular reconstruction.
abstract: Despite the delayed application of the free fibula flap to mandibular reconstruction, its recognition as a reliable, sensate skin paddle combined with enough bone to repair any mandibular defect and offer bicortical fixation of osseointegrated implants has proved the free fibula flap to be a "workhorse" in the repair of composite mandibular defects. The low donor site morbidity slightly eases the wait for the molecular reconstructive "cocktails" from the shelf of the next millennium.
authors.affiliation: Naval Medical Center, San Diego, California.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Hayden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*