Reconstruction of mandible defect with folded free fibular flap

Abstract

Mandibular defects directly affect a patient’ facial features, masticatory and articulation. This study has analyzed 41 patients with mandibular ameloblastoma who underwent a partial mandibulectomy and reconstruction by folding the free fibular flap. In the preoperative and postoperative (6 months and 24 months after surgery), the QOL of these patients was assessed by using the University of Washington Quality of Life Questionnaire (UW-QOL) and the medical outcome study short form-36 (SF-36) questionnaires. The sf-36 survey showed that body pain, general health, and health changes decreased significantly at 6 months after surgery, but the mean score at 24 months after surgery all exceeded that shown before surgery. The UW-QOL survey showed that chewing, speech and taste had significantly changed in the 6 months after the surgery, and the difference was statistically significant 24 months after the surgery. The total score of the patients almost recovered to the preoperative level at 24 months after the surgery. The folded free fibular flap is an ideal selection for the reconstruction of oral defects after cancer resection. In using this flap, the basic social need of patients after surgery can be satisfied. The folded free fibular flap can improve the patients’ QOL.