• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.118-126
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• 2000

A radical maxillectomy causes a defect of the alveolar bone, gingiva, palate, and orbital floor and causes cosmetical problems and masticatory and phonatory functions. Defect after a radical maxillectomy was reconstructed with skin or dermis graft was introduced, but recently wide resection of the tumor and functional reconstruction with free flap was introduced by several methods. The defect due to radical maxillectomy was reconstructed with scapula, iliac crest, radius. But reconstruction with a fibular osteocutaneous free flap was rarely introduced to defect of radical maxillectomy. The fibular osteocutaneous free flap was firstly introduced by Taylor. The fibular osteocutaneous free flap has several advantages. We experienced the first case of radical maxillectomy and reconstruction with the fibular osteocutaneous free flap, so we reported that case with literatures. The patient has a right maxillary sinus squamous carcinoma (T2N0M0), and performed a radical maxillectomy with right supraomohyoid neck dissection, and reconstruction with fibular osteocutaneous free flap. Donor site morbidity was little, and phonatory and masticatory function were nearly normalized. And cosmetical result was very acceptable.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.136-143
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• 2004

Purpose : We analyse retrospectively the clinical result of consecutive free flap and osteocutaneous flap transfer in the chronic osteomyelitis, nonunion combined with infection and soft tissue defect with infection. Materials and Methods : From December 1989 to Jun 2003, free flap and osteocutaneous flap transfer was performed in 225 patients with osteomyelitis or infected non-union. 44 cases of these patients had revealed antibitotics resistant organism in wound culture, and these 44 cases were investigated in the mechanism of the injury, recurrence of infection, radiographic union, follow-up clincal results, and postoperative complications. Results : Among the 44 cases, consecutive procedures of osteocutaneous flap transfers(26 cases) and free flaps(18 cases) were performed. Causative organisms were MRSA(20 cases), Pseudomonas aeruginosa(18 cases), acinetobacter(2 cases), and so forth. Initial bony union was obtained in the average 6.3 months. Recurrence of infection in free flap and osteocutaneous free flap were occurred in 3 and 4 cases respectively. Eventually, all the cases attained successful subsidence of the inflammation. Conclusion : Free flap and osteocutaneousflap transfer have provided the greatest improvement of surgical results in infected non-union, chronic osteomyelitis and soft tissue defect with infection. Further clincal studies maybe required to minimize failure rate.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 2012

Purpose: Fibular osteocutaneous free flap is the procedure of choice for mandibular reconstruction. However, the anatomic consistency and the reliability of the skin paddle have been considered to be questionable and the utilization of the fibular osteocutaneous free flap can be challenging for the inexperienced surgeon. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) angiography can support revolutionary help with the operator design of the fibular osteocutaneous flap. The purpose of this article is to share the valuable experience of support with preoperative CT angiography. Methods: Three consecutive patients, who needed mandibular reconstruction, were treated with fibular osteocutaneous free flap. Each of the patients had undergone lower extremity CT angiography before the surgery. The CT angiographies were scrupulously investigated to calculate the locations and the tracts of the peroneal artery perforators. We compared the findings of the CT angiography with those of the real operation. Results: The information about the perforators was sufficiently matched with the findings of the operation. With the use of preoperative CT angiography, we were able to achieve confident performance during operation, shortening of operation time, and fine outcomes with a no flap failure. Conclusion: The CT angiography of lower extremity can provide reliable information of the perforators of the fibular osteocutaneous free flap.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.37
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• pp.7.1-7.7
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• 2015

Background: Osteoradionecrosis is a delayed complication from radiation therapy which causes chronic pain, infection and constant deformity after necrosis. Most of the osteoradionecrosis occurs spontaneously or after the primary oncologic surgery, dental extraction or by trauma of prosthesis. The treatment of osteoradionecrosis relies on both conservative measures and surgical measures. The fibular osteocutaneous free flap has become more popular choice for reconstruction of maxillofacial defects as a treatment of osteoradionecrosis. Methods: We presented our experiences from 7 patients with osteoradionecrosis who have had reconstruction surgery with fibular osteocutaneous free flap at National Cancer Center during the recent 5 years. We performed segmental mandibular resection with fibular osteocutaneous free flap for all 7 patients of advanced osteoradionecrosis who were not controlled by conservative treatment such as wound irrigation, debridement, and antibiotics. Results: A wide range of techniques were available for the reconstruction of composite defects resulted from the treatment of advanced mandibular osteoradionecrosis. Significant improvement was noted in relieving pain and treating trismus after the surgery however difficulty in swallowing and xerostomia showed less improvement. Conclusions: We concluded that fibular osteocutaneous free flap can be performed safely in patients with osteoradionecrosis and yields positive outcomes with significantly increased success rate. The fibular osteocutaneous free flap was our preferred choice for the mandibular reconstruction due to its versatility and predictability.

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

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.495-503
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• 2018

With significant improvements in success rates for free flap reconstruction of the head and neck, attention has turned to donor site morbidity associated with osteocutaneous free flaps. In this review, we address the morbidity associated with harvest of the four most commonly used osteocutaneous flaps; the free fibula flap, the scapula flap, the iliac crest flap and the radial forearm flap. A comprehensive literature search was performed to identify articles relevant to donor site morbidity for these flaps. We assessed morbidity in terms of incidence of delayed healing, chronic pain, aesthetic outcomes, site specific complications and patient satisfaction/quality of life. Weighted means were calculated when sufficient studies were available for review. The radial forearm and free fibula flaps are associated with high rates of delayed healing of approximately 20% compared to the scapular (<10%) and iliac flaps (5%). The radial forearm flap has higher rates of chronic pain (16.7%) and dissatisfaction with scar appearance (33%). For the majority of these patients harvest of one of these four osteocutaneous does not limit daily function at long-term follow-up. The scapular osteocutaneous flap is associated with the lowest relative morbidity and should be strongly considered when the recipient defect allows. The radial forearm is associated with higher morbidity in terms of scarring, fractures, chronic pain and wrist function and should not be considered as first choice when other flap options are available.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.105-109
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• 2021

The use of a fibula osteocutaneous flap is currently the mainstay of segmental mandibular reconstruction. This type of flap is used to treat tumors, trauma, or osteoradionecrosis of the mandible. However, a fibula osteocutaneous flap may also be a good option for reconstructing the mandible to preserve oropharyngeal function and facial appearance in cases of pathological fracture requiring extensive segmental bone resection. Chronic osteomyelitis is one of the various causes of subsequent pathologic mandibular fractures; however, it is rare, and there have been few reports using free flaps in osteomyelitis of the mandible. We share our experience with a 76-year-old patient who presented with a pathologic fracture following osteomyelitis of the mandible that was reconstructed using a fibula osteocutaneous flap after wide segmental resection.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2004

The vascularity of a skin island in fibula osteocutaneous free flap often depends on musculocutaneous perforators that find their origin in the proximal peroneal artery. But a potential drawback has been reported on the unreliability of the skin paddle. The perforating vessels to the skin paddle of the fibula osteocutaneous free flap were rarely derived from a common tibio-fibula trunk, an anterior tibial artery and a posterior tibial artery. Previous studies have emphasized total loss of the overlying skin paddle, if the expected perforating vessels are not present. We report here on our experience that the skin paddle of the fibula osteocutaneous free flap was vascularized not by a peroneal artery but a direct branch of the posterior tibial artery. There were no intraseptal nor intramuscular pedicles in the posterior crural septum which connected to the overlying skin island. Therefore, we performed microsurgical anastomoses between distal peroneal vessels of the fibula and the perforating branches of the posterior tibial vessels of the skin paddle. The anastomosed skin paddle was salvaged with a peroneal flow through vascular anastomosis and was transferred to the bone and intraoral soft tissue defects with the fibula graft. The patient had no evidence of vascular compromise in the postoperative period and showed good healing of the intraoral skin flap.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.426-432
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• 2019

Background The mandible is an important structure that is located in the lower third of the face. Large mandibular defects after tumor resection cause loss of its function. This study assessed the outcomes and tumor recurrence after immediate mandibular reconstruction using a free fibula osteocutaneous flap following radical resection of ameloblastoma. Methods This is a retrospective non-randomized study of outcomes and tumor recurrence of all patients diagnosed with mandibular ameloblastoma from August 1997 until August 2017 (20 years) requiring free fibula osteocutaneous flap reconstruction at a single institution. The patients were identified through an electronic operative database; subsequently, their medical records and photo documentation were retrieved. Results Twenty-seven patients were included in this study. Eighteen patients were male, while nine were female. The majority of the patients (48.1%) were in their third decade of life when they were diagnosed with ameloblastoma. All of them underwent radical resection of the tumor with a surgical margin of 2 cm (hemimandibulectomy in cases with a large tumor) and immediate mandibular reconstruction with a free fibula osteocutaneous flap. Two patients required revision of a vascular anastomosis due to venous thrombosis postoperatively, while one patient developed a flap recipient site infection. The flap success rate was 100%. There was no tumor recurrence during a mean follow-up period of 5.6 years. Conclusions Mandibular ameloblastoma should be treated with segmental mandibulectomy (with a surgical margin of 2 cm) to reduce the risk of recurrence. Subsequent mandibular and adjacent soft tissue defects should be reconstructed immediately with a free fibula osteocutaneous flap.

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