Vascularized fibula flap reconstruction of the mandible in bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis

Abstract 

Aims

To point out the feasibility of microsurgical reconstruction of the mandible in patients with bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis (BRONJ).

Methods

Seven patients with extensive mandibular osteonecrosis underwent subtotal mandibulectomy and immediate reconstruction with a free fibula flap. They were six women and one man aged 49–72years. The mean size of the bone and oral mucosa defects were 18.5 and 22.5cm² respectively.

Results

The mean time of surgical intervention was 12h. All flaps survived and the postoperative course was uneventful. Oral feeding was resumed 14days after surgery in all cases. The donor legs healed without complications. The pathology report confirmed the diagnosis of BRONJ in all patients. Normal bone was detected at the resection margins in six out of seven patients. Patients were followed-up at intervals of 3months. After a median follow-up time of 23months, no clinical and radiographic evidence of recurrent BRONJ were detected in six patients. One patient with osteomyelitis at the resection margins had signs of recurrent BRONJ 6months after surgery. The overall curative rate of the population was 86%.

Conclusions

Despite the limited number of patients studied so far, our data show that mandible reconstruction with the fibula flap is feasible and does not influence the natural course of the primary disease in BRONJ-resected patients.

Keywords: Bisphosphonates, Osteonecrosis, Mandibular reconstruction, Free fibula flap