• Journal of International Society for Simulation Surgery
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.13-16
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• 2017

Fibular free flap reconstruction is the flap of the choice in long-span mandibular bone reconstruction. The most common disadvantage of the fibular flap is short bone height to install dental implant. Double barrel fibular flap has been tried, however, bulky flap in the oral cavity hinder its use. Titanium reconstruction plate has been used simultaneously with the free fibular flap to stabilize occlusion and to fix the fibular flap. In this study, titanium reconstruction plate was fixed in the lower border of the mandible and the fibular free flap was fixed in the superior border of the titanium plate to improve implant-crown ratio. This new technique improved the longevity of the dental prosthodontics with dental implants.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.42-49
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• 2005

Between June 1989 and may 2004 Ipsilateral vascularized fibular transposition was performed on nine patients with segmental tibial defects combined with infection following trauma. Ipsilateral vascularized fibular graft was performed on two or three stage according to the degree of infection. Initially free vascular pedicled graft was done followed by ipsilateral vascularized fibular graft. Type of free flap used is scapular free flap 3 cases, latissimus dorsi free flap 5 cases and dorsalis pedis flap 1 cases. The patients were followed for an average of 3.4 years. the average time to union was 6.7 months, and in all patients the graft healed in spite of complication. Complication was free flap venous thrombosis in 1 cases, persistent infection in 1 cases, delayed bony union at the distal end of fibular graft in 2 cases. The results showed that more faster bony union was seen in which cases firmly internally fixated and more faster hypertrophy of graft in which cases was permitted to ambulate on early weight bearing and more faster healing in which cases debrided more meticulously. Reconstruction of tibia defect with free flap followed by Ipsilateral fibular transposition is a useful and safe method to avoid the potential risk of infection for patients with tibial large bone defect and soft tissue defect associated with infection.

• 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.8 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 1999

The need for reconstruction of large bone, soft tissue defect of mandible has greater emphasis due to development of industry, traumatic accident and increase of tumor. The mandibular reconstruction had greatly progressed through the first and the second World Wars. The Fibular free flap by using microscope was reported in 1970 and many maxillofacial reconstructive surgeons had used. In 1988, Dr. Hidalgo first reported mandibular reconstruction by using fibular free flap. Mandibular reconstruction by using fibular free flap has several advantages. First, it provides up to 25 cm of bone, enough to reconstruct any length of mandible defect. Second, a skin island, based on a septocutaneous blood supply, is available in a size large enough to simultaneously reconstruct internal and external soft tissue defect. Third, The fibular donor site morbidity is low, fourth, it provides a esthetic effect of mandible line. And finally bone viability is good. The Fibular osteocutaneous free flap was performed after COMMANDO operation due to squamous cell cancer in oral cavity (15 cases). Therefore we report out successful operation of the mandible reconstruction by using fibular osteocutaneous free flap.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.38
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• pp.46.1-46.7
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• 2016

Background: Osteoradionecrosis is the most dreadful complication after head and neck irradiation. Orocutaneous fistula makes patients difficult to eat food. Fibular free flap is the choice of the flap for mandibular reconstruction. Osteocutaneous flap can reconstruct both hard and soft tissues simultaneously. This study was to investigate the success rate and results of the free fibular flap for osteoradionecrosis of the mandible and which side of the flap should be harvested for better reconstruction. Methods: A total of eight consecutive patients who underwent fibula reconstruction due to jaw necrosis from March 2008 to December 2015 were included in this study. Patients were classified according to stages, primary sites, radiation dose, survival, and quality of life. Results: Five male and three female patients underwent operation. The mean age of the patients was 60.1 years old. Two male patients died of recurred disease of oral squamous cell carcinoma. The mean dose of radiation was 70.5 Gy. All fibular free flaps were survived. Five patients could eat normal diet after operation; however, three patients could eat only soft diet due to loss of teeth. Five patients reported no change of speech after operation, two reported worse speech ability, and one patient reported improved speech after operation. The ipsilateral side of the fibular flap was used when intraoral soft tissue defect with proximal side of the vascular pedicle is required. The contralateral side of the fibular flap was used when extraoral skin defect with proximal side of the vascular pedicle is required. Conclusions: Osteonecrosis of the jaw is hard to treat because of poor healing process and lack of vascularity. Free fibular flap is the choice of the surgery for jaw bone reconstruction and soft tissue fistula repair. The design and selection of the right or left fibular is dependent on the available vascular pedicle and soft tissue defect sites.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.75-81
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• 2014

Background: The fibular free flap has been used as the standard methods of segmental mandibular reconstruction. The objective of mandibular reconstruction not only includes restored continuity of the mandible but also the recovery of optimal function. This paper emphasizes the advantage of the fibular free flap reconstruction over that of locking mandibular reconstruction plate fixation. Methods: The hospital charts of all patients (n=20) who had a mandibular reconstruction between 1994 and 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Eight patients had plateonly fixation of the mandible, and the remaining 12 had vascularized fibular free flap reconstruction. Complications and outcomes were reviewed and compared between the 2 groups via statistical analysis. Results: Overall complication rates were significantly lower in the fibular flap group (8.3%) than in the plate fixation group (87.5%; p =0.001). Most (7/8) patients in the plate fixation group had experienced plate-related late complications, including plate fracture or exposure. In the fibular flap group, no complications were observed, except for a single case of donor-site wound dehiscence (1/12). Conclusion: The fibular free flap provides a more stable support and additional soft tissue support for the plate, thereby minimizing the risk of plate-related complications. Fibular free flap is the most reliable option for mandibular reconstruction, and we believe that the flap should be performed primarily whenever possible.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.44-48
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• 2000

The advent of free bone flaps has made successful replacement of extensive areas of bone loss in the upper and lower extremities. The microvascular free bone flaps have faster healing without bony absorption or atrophy and can heal in the hostile environment of scarred bed or infection. Since the fibula free flap introduced by Taylor and colleague in 1975, it has been used extensively for skeletal reconstruction of extremities. In 1988, the folded vascularized fibula free flap was first described as a technique to reconstruct significant long bone defect of upper and lower extremities. During the same time, the fibular free flap has evolved to become most preferred choice of mandibular reconstruction. Up to present day, few reports have been made on the fibular free flap used for reconstruction of injured hand containing metacarpal bone and soft tissue defect. We present here our new and unique experiences with vascularized fibular osteocutaneous free flap as useful and satisfactory one for reconstruction of hand with composite defects.

• 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.

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