title: Sequential second free fibula flap for the reconstruction of metachronous osteoradionecrosis of the mandible.
abstract: Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the mandible is a potentially catastrophic complication of external beam radiation therapy for head and neck malignancies. A 55-year-old man treated with chemoradiation for base-of-tongue cancer presented with a necrotic left mandibular body and underwent left mandibulectomy with right free fibula osteocutaneous flap reconstruction. Two and a half years later, he presented with right mandibular body ORN and underwent a second mandibular resection and subsequent reconstruction with a left fibula osteocutaneous free flap fixed in the midline to the previously placed contralateral fibula. He recovered well from all procedures. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first case of a patient with metachronous ORN of the mandible requiring resection and subsequent reconstruction with sequential free fibula flaps. Even in the presence of prior microvascular reconstructions, patients can successfully undergo additional reconstructive procedures to restore their function, appearance, and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York 10065, USA.
authors.forename: Alyssa J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Reiffel
authors.forename: Christine H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Kutler
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Spector
mesh_terms: D005360:Fibula / Q000637:transplantation*; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010025:Osteoradionecrosis / Q000601:surgery*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*