Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is widely used in preoperative evaluation of the lower limbs’ vascular system for virtual surgical planning (VSP) of fibula free flap (FFF) for jaw reconstruction. The present retrospective clinical study analysed n = 72 computed tomography angiographies (CTA) of lower limbs for virtual surgical planning (VSP) for jaw reconstruction. The purpose of the investigation was to evaluate the morphology of the fibular bone and its vascular supply in CTA imaging, and further, the amount and distribution of periosteal branches (PB) and septo-cutaneous perforators (SCPs) of the fibular artery. A total of 144 lower limbs was assessed (mean age: 58.5 ± 15.3 years; 28 females, 38.9%; 44 males, 61.1%). The vascular system was categorized as regular (type I-A to II-C) in 140 cases (97.2%) regarding the classification by Kim. Absent anterior tibial artery (type III-A, n = 2) and posterior tibial artery (type III-B, n = 2) were detected in the left leg. Stenoses were observed mostly in the fibular artery (n = 11), once in the anterior tibial artery, and twice in the posterior tibial artery. In total, n = 361 periosteal branches (PBs) and n = 231 septo-cutaneous perforators (SCPs) were recorded. While a distribution pattern for PBs was separated into two clusters, a more tripartite distribution pattern for SCPs was found. We conclude that conventional CTA for VSP of free fibula flap (FFF) is capable of imaging and distinguishing SCPs and PBs.

BackgroundVirtual surgical planning (VSP) for jaw reconstruction with free fibula flap (FFF) became a routine procedure and requires computed tomography angiography (CTA) for preoperative evaluation of the lower limbs vascular system and the bone. The aim of the study was to assess whether the distribution and density of periosteal branches (PB) and septo-cutaneous perforators (SCP) of the fibular artery have an impact on flap success.MethodThis retrospective clinical study assessed preoperative CTA of the infra-popliteal vasculature and the small vessel system of 72 patients who underwent FFF surgery. Surgical outcome of flap transfer includes wound healing, subtotal, and total flap loss were matched with the segmental vascular supply.ResultA total of 72 patients (28 females, 38.9 %; 44 males, 61.1 %) fulfilled the study inclusion criteria. The mean age was 58.5 (± 15.3 years). Stenoses of the lower limbs’ vessel (n = 14) were mostly detected in the fibular artery (n = 11). Flap success was recorded in n = 59 (82.0%), partial flap failure in n = 4 (5.5%) and total flap loss in n = 9 (12.5%). The study found a mean number (± SD) of 2.53 ± 1.60 PBs and 1.39 ± 1.03 SCPs of the FA at the donor-site. The proximal FFF segment of poly-segmental jaw reconstruction showed a higher rate of PB per flap segment than in the distal segments. Based on the total number of prepared segments (n = 121), 46.7% (n = 7) of mono-, 40.4% (n = 21) of bi-, and 31.5 % (n = 17) of tri-segmental fibula flaps were at least supplied by one PB in the success group. Overall, this corresponds to 37.2% (45 out of 121) of all successful FFF. For total flap loss (n = 14), a relative number of 42.9% (n = 6) of distinct supplied segments was recorded. Wound healing disorder of the donor site was not statistically significant influenced by the detected rate of SCP.ConclusionIn general, a correlation between higher rates of PB and SCP and the flap success could not be statistically proved by the study sample. We conclude, that preoperative PB and SCP mapping based on routine CTA imaging is not suitable for prediction of flap outcome.