Reconstruction of the mandible by fibula free flap.
BACKGROUND
The most frequent cause of defect in the mandible is tumor-related surgery. Larger defects or anterior arch defects cause severe morbidity due to disturbances in function and esthetics.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the outcome of free tissue transfer for mandible reconstruction.


METHODS
Since 1998 we operated on 11 patients with mandible defects using the fibula flap as the reconstruction method. We performed immediate reconstruction in eight patients after ablative surgery, and late reconstruction due to radiation-induced complications in three.


RESULTS
All patients achieved good functional and esthetic outcome. During the follow-up period two patients died of their malignant disease and one patient died from a non-related cause. Although two patients underwent reoperation in the first 3 months after their primary operation due to fixation failure, there were no other major complications.


CONCLUSIONS
According to the literature and our limited experience, the fibula flap is a safe and reliable option for mandible reconstruction.
Department of Plastic Surgery, Hadassah University Hospital, Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel. deanadel@yahoo.com
Dean
D
Ad-el
Nardi
N
Casapi
Eran
E
Regev
Raphael
R
Zeltser
Oded
O
Nahlieli
Arie
A
Shtayer
Eithan
E
Hochvald
Jean-Yves
JY
Sichel
Tomy
T
Shpitzer
Yehuda Ben
YB
Asher
Arie
A
Eldad
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000637:transplantation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps