title: Mandibular reconstruction using osteocutaneous radial forearm flap.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the use of radial forearm osteocutaneous free flap in complex mandibular reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from January 1998 to January 2008.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients having a small bony component and a large soft tissue mandibular defect requiring reconstruction were selected. These defects include composite through-and-through defects of the cheek in the retromolar trigone, small lateral bony defects with large intra and extra oral soft tissue defects and small central bony defects with large extra oral tissue loss. Radial forearm osteocutaneous free flap was employed. Complications and graft acceptance were determined at follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were followed-up for an average period of 28 months. Complications occurred in 8 patients. Wound infection and partial wound dehiscence were the most common complication observed in 3 patients. Non-union at recipient site was seen in 2 patients. Flap donor site healed uneventfully in all patients with no fractures at the donor site.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The radial forearm osteocutaneous flap covers oromandibular defects with large intra-oral and extra oral soft tissue losses. Lateral and anterior mandibular defects were reconstructed satisfactorily in our series.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad. ltcolmamoon@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mamoon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.forename: Muhammad Sarmad
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Tamimy
authors.forename: Sabeen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masroor
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zia-ul-Islam
authors.forename: Tahir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Manzoor
authors.forename: Saad-ur-Rehman
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Sarwar
authors.forename: Nauman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tariq
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005542:Forearm; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult