• Journal of International Society for Simulation Surgery
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.32-36
• /
• 2014

Reconstruction of the maxilla is quite a difficult challenge for reconstructive surgeons. The maxilla is the most important part of the midface, which contributes to facial esthetics, mastication, swallowing, speech, supporting orbital contents and sinus function. Free fibular flap is most versatile to reconstruct jaw bone because of its adequate length, containing both soft and bony tissues and acceptance of dental implants. In this case report, a reconstruction of the maxilla using free fibular flap and dental implants is described in which rapid prototype was used before surgery to simulate the final prosthetic results.

• Journal of International Society for Simulation Surgery
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.90-94
• /
• 2014

Reconstruction of the mandible after ablative oral cancer surgery requires esthetic and functional rehabilitation. Restoring facial symmetry and dentition need accurate preoperative surgical planning and meticulous surgical technique. Free fibular flap is most useful tools to reconstruct mandible because of its adequate length and height, simultaneous harvest of soft and hard tissues and placing dental implants. In this case report, recurred squamous cell carcinoma in the right mandible had been resected and free fibular flap was utilized for mandible reconstruction using 3D rapid prototype. Simulation surgery before dental implant placement has been performed for esthetic and functional prosthodontics.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.75-80
• /
• 2001

Purpose : We have evaluated the morbidity of donor site after transfer of free fibular osseous and osteocutaneous flap to defect site of bone and soft tissue due to chronic osteomyelitis of long tubular bone, open fracture with bony defect, bone or soft tissue tumor and congenital anomaly. Materials and methods : The 54 cases of 79 cases to be carried out from May, 1982 to May, 2001 which could be followed up were reviewed. There were forty nine in male and five in female. The mean age was 35(4 to 66)years old and mean follow up period is 21.3 month(12 to 72). We have retrospectively analyzed the various postoperative complications such as compartment syndrome, donor site infection, skin defect, hypesthesia, hammer toes, ankle instability and activity of daily living by help of questionnaire, telephone, physical examination, follow up x-ray study and chart. Results : In the total 54 cases the medication period for pain control after operation were classified into three groups under 2 weeks(49 cases), from 2 weeks to 6 weeks(3 cases) and over 6 weeks(2 cases). The postoperative morbidity were occurred in total 12 cases(compartment syndrome: 0, infection : 2, skin defect: 1, hypesthesia: 5, hammer toe: 2 ankle pain: 2 discomfort in activity of daily living: 0), and also the morbidity rates of donor site were 23.5% in osseous flap and 21.6% in osteocutaneous flap were occurred. There was no statistical significonce in morbidity between osseous and osteocutaneous free fibular flap transfer(P>0.05). Discussion : In general the morbidity of free fibular flap transfer was relatively high but it did not have any effect on daily activity of living. We think that the meticulous operation technique, detailed wound care and early range of motion exercise will reduce the morbidity of donor site of flap.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
• /
• v.48 no.8
• /
• pp.607-614
• /
• 2010

Reconstruction after ablative oral cancer surgery is challenging mission. Soft tissue and hard tissue could be resected in case of advanced oral cancer. The final goal of oral reconstruction is to gain normal swallowing, chewing and speech. Nowadays, free flap reconstruction after oral cancer resection is more popular than pedicled flap. Microsurgical reconstruction with free flap could be used effectively in complicated cases of oral cavity defect. However, complications could be happened. So not only meticulous preoperative study about the extent of defects but also the donor site dressing after surgery were performed to prevent postoperative complication. The most favorite free flap for soft tissue reconstruction is radial forearm flap. It has a lot of advantages such as pliable, hairless, reliable vessels, appropriate diameter of radial artery and diverse flap design. And the most popular free flap for jaw reconstruction is free fibular flap. In this article, we report the classification of flap for reconstruction and reveal the pits and falls of radial forearm free flap and free fibular flap.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• /
• v.40
• /
• pp.41.1-41.4
• /
• 2018

Background: Free fibular flap is one of the most useful methods in the hard tissue reconstruction of the maxillamandible. Free fibular flap presents some advantages in which the reconstruction of both soft and hard tissues can be done at the same time. It also provides a safe and successful bone graft for the reconstruction, along with a low rate of complications. Despite these advantages and the rarity of a postoperative complication, particularly in oral and maxillofacial surgery procedures, a prolonged operation might exhibit some complications related with rhabdomyolysis. We experienced the rare event of rhabdomyolysis after oral cancer surgery. Case presentation: In this article, we report the case of a patient who developed rhabdomyolysis after undergoing free fibular flap surgery. Conclusions: Despite the advantages of the free fibular flap operation, clinicians must be aware of the risk of complications because there are multiple factors that could result in rhabdomyolysis, such as duration of operation, position of the subject, and pre-existing conditions of diabetes and hypertension. Once the diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis is confirmed, a prompt treatment plan should be made and applied as soon as possible. This will increase the chance of a full recovery for the patient who is exhibiting symptoms of rhabdomyolysis.

• Journal of International Society for Simulation Surgery
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2015

Purpose Bisphophonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is an emerging problem. Extensive osteonecrosis of the jaw needs free flap reconstruction. Free fibular flap is the most useful flap for maxilla-mandibular hard and soft tissue reconstruction. The advantages of fibular free flap are simultaneous soft and hard tissue reconstruction and placing implant in reconstructed mandible and maxilla. In this study, four consecutive BRONJ patients who underwent fibula free flap reconstruction using simulation surgery were reviewed. Materials and Methods Four BRONJ patients who underwent free fibula reconstruction between May 2006 and September 2014 were included in this study. Male to female ratio was 1:3 and average age was 67.3 years old (62-70). All patients need mandibular bone reconstruction. Three patients suffered from osteoporosis and one male patient had multiple myeloma. Postoperative flap survival, functional reconstruction, esthetic results, food taking were evaluated. Results Three osseous flaps and one osteocutaneous flap were used. All the fibular flaps were survived and patients were recovered without complications. Oro-cutaneous fistula was resolved after operation. All patients were satisfied with the esthetic results. Patients reported improved solid food intake after operation with partial denture. One fully edentulous patient had semi-fluid diet after operation. Conclusion Treatment of the BRONJ is difficult due to lack of standard protocol. Fibular free flap using simulation surgery is the workhorse flap for mandibular hard and soft tissue reconstruction, especially in stage III BRONJ patient. In this study, functional and esthetic results were successful in all patients. Normal diet was possible with partial dentures.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.50-53
• /
• 2012

Advanced cancer of the oral cavity has been treated with wide excision in conjunction with mandibulectomy and neck dissection. This has resulted in significant mandibulofacial defects with functional and cosmetic significance. Therefore, proper mandibular reconstruction is very important for physiologic and esthetic restoration. The risk factors of free flap reconstruction have been reported including obesity, age, smoking, previous irradiation, and systemic vascular disease. We recently experienced a case of donor site necrosis after fibular osteocutaneous free flap in oral cavity cancer.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.381-384
• /
• 2005

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare malignancy of head and neck region. When rhabdomyosarcoma occurs in maxillary area, total maxillectomy is necessary. Total maxillectomy causes defects of orbital floor, palate, gingiva, and alveolar bone, causing severe facial deformity and functional impairment. Immediate maxillary reconstruction has to cover both bone and soft tissue to minimize cosmetic and functional problems. The fibular osteocutaneous free flap can provide paranasal, gingiva, oral mucosal lining and foundation for dental prosthesis, thus ensuring good cosmetic results and mastication, phonation function. We have experienced a reconstruction case of a 19-year-old man with rhabdomyosarcoma of the left maxillary sinus. The patient underwent total maxillectomy and neck dissection. We designed a fibular free flap that had a vascularized bone segment and a double skin paddle. Surgical outcomes were excellent in cosmetic and functional aspects.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.637-642
• /
• 2006

Purpose: Incidence of chronic osteomyelitis in femur is lower than that of tibia due to abundantsurrounding soft tissue like muscles and subcutaneous fat. However, if the femur is infected, surgical approach would be very difficult because of surrounding soft tissue and bony defects would be getting larger due to the late detection. Chronic osteomyelitis of femur is an intractable disease with frequent recurrence and remained bone instability in spite of multiple classical operations. Methods: From August 1998 to October 2005, we had 7 cases of fibular osteocutaneous free flap to reconstruct the femur. Those were followed-up for 23 months. All 7 cases were male. 4 cases were in midshaft and the others are distal part of femur. Results: The 7 cases that had not been healed in spite of average 9.1 times previous operations were reconstructed successfully without the recurrence of chronic osteomyelitis. Continuous rehabilitation therapy and brace were very helpful for the ambulation. It took 5.6 months for complete union of bone, and 9.8 months for the ambulation. Conclusion: After wide resection, reconstruction of the femur using fibular osteocutaneous free flap guaranteed bone stability and prevented recurrence of osteomyelitis through rich blood supplying fibula and muscle. Double barrel graft of fibula would be needed in case of the sufficient strength and thickness of femur. We report the successful results of reconstruction of femur with fibular osteocutaneous free flap for chronic osteomyelitis of femur.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.63-72
• /
• 1997

We have evaluated the clinical results following the 46 cases of free vascularized osteocutaneous fibular flap transfer to the tibial defect combined with skin and soft tissue defect, which were performed from May 1982 to January 1997. Regarding to the operation, flap size, length of the grafted fibula, anastomosed vessels, ischemic time of the flap and total operation time were measured. After the operation, time to union of grafted fibula and the amount of hypertrophy of grafted fibula were periodically measured through the serial X-ray follow-up and also the complications and results of treatment were evaluated. In the 46 consecutive procedures of free vascularized osteocutaneous fibular flap transfer, initial bony union were obtained in the 43 grafted fibulas at average 3.75 months after the operation. There were 2 cases in delayed unions and 1 in nonunion. 44 cutaneous flaps among the 46 cases were survived but 2 cases were necrotized due to deep infection and venous insufficiency. One necrotized flap was treated with latissimus dorsi free flap transfer and the other was treated with soleus muscle rotational flap. Grafted fibulas have been hypertrophied during the follow-up periods. The fracture of grafted fibula(15 cases) was the most common complication and occurred at average 9.7 months after the operation. The fractured fibulas were treated with the cast immobilization or internal fixation with conventional cancellous bone graft. In the cases of tibia and fibula fracture at recipient site, the initial rigid fixation for the fibula fracture at recipient site could prevent the fracture of grafted fibula to the tibia.