Mandibular reconstruction with free fibula flaps in the elderly: a retrospective evaluation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate surgical outcomes in elderly patients who had undergone free fibula flap transfer for malignant head and neck tumours. A retrospective chart review was performed to identify patients who had undergone free fibula flap transfer for mandibular reconstruction after malignant tumour resection at Jichi Medical University Hospital between May 2009 and April 2015. Enrolled patients were divided into an elderly group (≥80years old) and a younger group (<80years old). Seventeen patients met the inclusion criteria and were included in the elderly group. Age at surgery ranged from 80 to 92years. Thirteen patients (76.5%) experienced postoperative complications. Surgical site complications occurred in seven patients. The success rate of free fibula flap transfer was 100%. Systemic complications occurred in nine patients, most commonly delirium (n=6). No perioperative mortality was encountered. The overall 1-year survival rate was 94.1% (16/17). No patient reported gait disturbance as a donor site complication or any other major complication. The incidence of postoperative complications did not differ significantly between the elderly and younger groups. Almost no difference in postoperative course was seen between the groups. Elderly patients appear to tolerate free fibula flap reconstruction just as well as younger patients.

Evaluation of postoperative changes in vascularized iliac bone grafts used for mandibular reconstruction.

Vascularized iliac bone grafts are used for mandibular reconstruction, but the factors affecting graft maintenance are unknown. This study explored the postsurgical changes in vascularized iliac bone grafts in patients who had undergone mandibular reconstruction after segmental resection. The study involved 24 patients (16 men and eight women) with oral tumours or osteoradionecrosis. Thirteen patients required bare bone grafting (BBG) and 11 patients required reconstruction with soft tissue coverage (six with a skin paddle and five with direct closure). The bone graft maintenance rate (with regard to the height of the centre of the graft) was calculated immediately after surgery and at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36months after surgery. The maintenance rate was significantly lower in the BBG group than in the soft tissue coverage group at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36months, and in those who were fitted with dentures compared to those who were not at 6, 12, 24, and 36months. Local infection also influenced the maintenance rate, but not significantly so. These findings indicate that the reconstruction technique and denture use can affect the bone graft maintenance rate after mandibular reconstruction with vascularized iliac bone grafts.

Immediate maxillary reconstruction after malignant tumor extirpation.

AIMS: Immediate maxillary reconstruction after malignant tumor extirpation differs from other types of maxillary reconstruction. Our reconstruction algorithm is described in this article. METHODS: One hundred ninety-four patients who had undergone maxillectomy for malignant tumors were reviewed, and maxillectomy defects were classified with the method of Cordeiro and Santamaria. RESULTS: Mean total blood loss was 848 ml, and 71 patients died within 2 years after surgery. For type IIIa defects of the orbital floor, titanium mesh or vascularized bone or cartilage was used for reconstruction, but the rate of postoperative complications did not differ between titanium and autografts. Therefore, to reconstruct orbital floor defects we have recently used only titanium mesh. For type I or II defects, we use autografts for only selected cases. CONCLUSIONS: We strive to perform less-invasive reconstructive surgery after resection for maxillary malignancy.