title: Iliac flap versus fibula flap in mandibular reconstruction.
abstract: The mandible is one of the important parts of the body in terms of facial appearance and function. Vascularized free bone grafts have become the criterion standard in mandible reconstruction. With flap survival rates not too much distant to 100%, the focus is now on function and aesthetics. With the various free-flap options now available, reconstruction of the mandibular defect has achieved significant improvement in both functional and aesthetic results. However, few studies have compared the results of these options. The fibula is defined as the most popular flap in mandibular reconstruction, and only in few papers iliac flaps are preferred. However, quality of life and effectiveness data are not available to support this choice. Not any previous study prospectively compared these 2 flaps. Short- and long-term results of an outcome-research study were prospectively compared in microvascular mandibular reconstruction with fibular flap and iliac crest flaps. Mean functional and quality-of-life scores were higher following iliac crest reconstructions. Fibular flap was the flap of choice in total/subtotal mandibulectomy, but it does not appear preferable in hemimandibulectomy and/or in cases of segmental mandibulectomy, if compared with the iliac crest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University-Hospital S. Maria della Misericordia, Udine, Italy. massimo.politi@uniud.it
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Politi
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005360:Fibula / Q000637:transplantation*; D058752:Free Tissue Flaps; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007085:Ilium / Q000637:transplantation*; D008297:Male; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome