Stress fracture of the tibia following a vascularised free fibular flap.
A 49-year-old female presented with a T4 N2 Mo moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the right cheek mucosa and involving the mandible. Patient treatment included resection of the tumour with partial mandibulectomy, maxillectomy and a free osteocutaneous fibular flap to reconstruct the bony mandibular and soft tissue intraoral defects. Six weeks postoperatively the patient developed a stress fracture of the right tibia, a complication which has not been reported in the literature previously. Pre- and postoperative measures should be considered to avoid such a complication.
Kabadaya
M S
MS
St James's Hospital, James's Street, Dublin 8, Ireland.
Beausang
E
E
Stassen
L F A
LF
D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery; D002610:Cheek / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000637:transplantation*; D015775:Fractures, Stress / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*