[Three-dimensional finite element analysis of the mandible reconstruction with fibula].
OBJECTIVE
To construct a three-dimensional finite element model of reconstructed mandible and analyze the stress distributions of the model.


METHODS
CT scan and CAD/CAM software was used to develop the three-dimensional finite element model of reconstructed mandible and stress analysis was performend with ANASYS 7.0 software.


RESULTS
The three-dimensional finite element models of normal mandible and reconstructed mandible were constructed. The stress analysis discovered an unbalanced stress distribution in the mandible.


CONCLUSIONS
Reconstructing mandible with fibular flap not only damages its structure, but also induced the badness of its biomechanical environment, in which condyle was the most sensitive region during the stresses in the mandible were changed.
Ji
Tong
T
Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Ninth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200011, China.
Tie
Ying
Y
Wang
Dong-Mei
DM
Zhang
Chen-Ping
CP
D005360:Fibula; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed