Functional evaluation of mandibular reconstruction with bone free flap. A GETTEC study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the functional results of oromandibular reconstruction by free bone flap, in terms of swallowing, speech and esthetics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A transverse multicenter study included 134 patients reconstructed by free bone flap between 1998 and 2016, with more than 6 months' follow-up, in 9 centers. A standardized questionnaire collected data on patients and treatment. Study endpoints comprised: weight loss, mouth opening, gastrostomy dependence, type of feeding, and DHI score. The impact of patient baseline characteristics on these functional criteria was explored by uni/multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Ninety of the 134 patients had cancer. Fibula flap was mainly used (80%). 94% of reconstructions were primary successes. 71% of patients had pre- or post-operative radiation therapy. 88% had less than 50% lingual resection. 97% recovered oral feeding. 89% had intelligible speech. 86% judged their esthetic appearance as good/average. 9% had dental prosthetic rehabilitation. Radiation therapy and extensive lingual resection significantly impacted swallowing function (P=0.04 and P=0.03, respectively). Radiation therapy and oropharyngeal extension significantly increased gastrostomy dependence (P=0.04 and P=0.02, respectively). CONCLUSION: Oromandibular reconstruction by free bone flap enabled return to oral feeding in most cases. More than 80% of patients were satisfied with their result in terms of speech and esthetics. However, the rate of dental rehabilitation was low and the rate of complications was high.

In-house 3D treatment planning for mandibular reconstruction by free fibula flap in cancer: Our technique.

Planning of free fibula flaps for mandibular reconstruction improves the quality of conformation and reduces the operating time. Many methods based on modeling and 3D printing have been described with excellent results, but planning and production of custom-made guides and/or plates are often time-consuming and expensive. In this article, we describe our 3D printing-assisted free fibula flap planning method, routinely performed exclusively by the surgical team in less than 72hours, compatible with urgent cancer management. Fibula and mandible models were printed by using preoperative CT data. The mandibular resection, the length of fibula and the number of osteotomies and their angles were planned on the printed models. Titanium fixation plates were then conformed on the printed model and sterilized prior to surgery and templates were made to guide fibula osteotomies. Preliminary analysis based on 7 cases shows a reduction of conformation time with good clinical and radiological results. This 3D printing-assisted planning technique is simple, cost-effective and readily reproducible, allowing mandibular reconstruction with good cosmetic and functional results.

Use of omental free flap for craniofacial reconstruction in unfavorable wound bed: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: The omental free flap is an effective tool for craniofacial reconstruction. However it is generally under-utilised by a large number of practitioners. This paper's goal is to increase awareness of this free flap's accessibility and to demonstrate that it can be an attractive option for reconstructive surgery. CLINICAL REPORT: This article outlines the details of a 57-year-old patient who required coverage of a fronto-parietal wound with dura mater exposure. After previous failed conventional free flap attempts, a procedure using the omental free flap was finally performed on this severe wound. The omentum was harvested via a 8cm laparotomy and anastomosed to the temporal vessels. The final result was successful, with a favorable aesthetic result. DISCUSSION: The omental free flap has many advantages: the pedicle length is long, it allows coverage of a large wound, it can be applied to a wound bed previously irradiated and infected, it has a low morbidity rate to the donor site, the surgical technique of harvesting is easy, the aesthetic result is satisfactory. However, the absence of skin slice is a disadvantage of the omental free flap because it makes monitoring difficult and it requires a skin graft in a second procedure. Laparoscopic harvest of omentum free flaps is a safe and effective tool in the reconstructive armamentarium. Every maxillofacial and plastic surgeon should aim to master and use this method as a legitimate option in some infrequent but appropriated cases.