Abstract
We evaluated the choice of methods for mandibular reconstruction after tumor ablative surgery in patients between January 1997 and December 2012, and especially in those patients with fibular graft for segmental manbibulectomy between July 1987 and December 2012. Our strategy for mandibular reconstruction after tumor ablative surgery is as follows: 1. If the vertical alveolar bone defect ranges within 4/1 to 1/3 and the height of the residual mandible is at least 15mm, neither alveolar bone reconstruction nor soft tissue reconstruction is performed, or soft tissue reconstruction alone is performed. 2. If the vertical alveolar bone defect is from 1/3 to 1/2 or if the height of the residual mandible is 10 to 15mm, a combination of alveolar ridge and soft tissue reconstruction using a radial forearm free flap with hemi-radius or (hemi-) fibular graft is performed. 3. If the bone defect accounts for more than 1/2 of the mandible or if the height of the residual mandible is less than 10 mm or in cases of segmental manbibulectomy, a combination of alveolar ridge and soft tissue reconstruction using a fibular graft is performed. The patients consisted of 77 cases and 47 cases, respectively. We examined the validity of our strategy and the choice of method for mandibular reconstruction after tumor ablative surgery.
