title: Use of the osteomuscular dorsal scapular flap in the reconstruction of mandibular defects.
abstract: The gold standard for mandibular defect reconstruction is the fibular free flap. Nevertheless, the pedicled osteomuscular dorsal scapular flap as a reconstructive tool offers promise for mandibular defect reconstruction and could be the first choice in certain circumstances. Its use in resource-limited settings offers an excellent solution to otherwise difficult reconstructive problems of the mandible. In 8 patients, mandibular defects resulting from the excision of benign tumors (6), trauma (1), and chronic osteomyelitis (1) were reconstructed using the pedicled osteomuscular dorsal scapular flap; these defects included the central segment of the mandible. The pedicled osteomuscular dorsal scapular flap is an excellent choice for mandibular reconstruction; it may serve as the primary choice in patients with vascular pathology that precludes free tissue transfer, as well as in resource-limited environments, as a secondary choice after a failed free flap reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery Unit, AIC Kijabe Hospital, Kijabe, Kenya, Africa. nthumba@gmail.com
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Nthumba
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D008338:Mandibular Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012540:Scapula / Q000637:transplantation*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome