The present case of mandibular reconstruction with FVFF was originally published in 1985 [11] and presented to the scientific community in 1986 and 1990 [12, 13]. At the time, fibula flaps had been used to treat lower limb injury [8], however, no report of mandibular reconstruction was available in the literature.
In the first proposal of use of fibula grafts, Taylor, Miller, and Ham [8] emphasized as their main positive points, in addition to a long and straight structure, the thick cortex and a viable vascular pedicle, which add to the low morbidity of the donor site. The main blood supply to the fibula is from the peroneal artery and multiple segmental musculoperiosteal vessels, while its venous drainage occurs through the two concomitant veins. The procedure involves two surgical teams working simultaneously and has a long duration, between 10 and 12 hours. This first reconstructive surgery, reported herein, lasted for 14 hours, which was considered adequate by the teams and produced favorable results, both in the immediate postoperative period and in medium- and long-term outcomes. The patient remained systemically stable in the immediate postoperative period, with no complications or complaints in the operated areas. The graft was buried in the receptor area and monitored for the first 72 hours via evaluations based on skin color, temperature, and pulse rate in the surrounding area, as well as blood color and flow after local puncturing. In addition to routine postoperative medication, dextran IV was administered in the first 48 hours [8].
In order to shape the graft to the recipient site, we confirmed similarity, in transverse sections, between the irregular oval profile of the fibular and mandibular bodies, with the exception of the dimensions. The posterior face of the graft mimics the basal region of the mandible, and the bone marrow is contained in thick cortical bone. We conducted ex vivo studies using programmed osteotomy and fracture, exploring the transverse and greenstick types of bone fracture, the latter of which allows for slight bending and could result in a slightly convex contour compatible with the mental region. The vestibular to lingual V-ostectomy proved the most acceptable method and was adopted. The V-wedge was then removed, separating the graft into two adjacent sections. The graft was then bent and approximated to a triangular arch form and stabilized with a standard metal wire. As stressed by Kokosis et al. [14], formatting of the fibula graft was a critical step during initial implementation of this surgical method, which has now evolved with technologies such as virtual planning, thus allowing the preparation of three-dimensional models of grafts prior to surgery.
In accordance with the technique described by Taylor et al. [8], a 1-cm sleeve of muscle was kept around the circumference of the fibula in order to preserve blood supply. We consider this combination of periosteum, muscle, and blood vessels as an adequate elastic mechanical structure to restrict the bone segments, while also enabling the physiological process of formation of bone callus after fracture, leading to local healing.
A restricted periosteal detachment allowed access to the cortical surfaces. In planning the osteotomies for this procedure, in addition to the number and location of the segments, we considered the length and positioning of the vascular pedicle near the future mandibular angle. In contrast to the current availability of various tools, no in situ preparation existed 38 years prior. The preparation time of this first fibula graft, involving segmentations, fixations, and anastomoses, was approximately 6 hours. According to Taylor et al. [8], an ischemia time between 1 h 15 min and 2 h 30 min, with 10 to 12 hours duration of the procedure, does not compromise total survival of the graft. A recent review on mandible reconstruction with free fibula flaps showed that a total ischemia time between 1.2 and 5.0 hours, along with surgical time between 7.0 and 15.5 hours, is not significantly associated with major complications [15].
The fibular pedicle was irrigated with heparin solution before anastomoses, as recommended at the time, while the onlay technique was used for fixation of the graft on the recipient mandible. After correcting for excess bone length, the medial cortical region of the mandibular component and the lateral cortical region of the fibula were both removed, creating low profiles for bone placement. The fibular profile was better established and geometrically delimited. Bone neoformation occurs between the two vital bone surfaces approximated to one another, levelled longitudinally at the external face and superimposed at the medial surface with proximal elongation, offering a larger transversal bone volume. Fibular reinforcement of the recipient jaw was also suggested by Hurczulack et al. [16]. In a proposal to use a male-female joint on the external cortical surface of the mandible, thus preserving the lingual plate, fixation of the graft by miniplates resulted in better stability.
Our previous studies with mandibular osteotomy [17, 18] suggest that an increase in the contact area of the proximal segment, and consequent virtual decrease of the distal arm, results in lower tension and displacement, as well as greater stability with rigid internal fixation. In the present case, only one 2.0 miniplate and 4 (L) plus 6 (R) screws were used in the external face, and intermaxillary immobilization was not performed. This procedure was also reported by Menard et al. [19], who used four osteoseptocutaneous fibular flaps for mandibular reconstruction and stressed the used of rigid fixation with miniplates, without intermaxillary immobilization.
Various types of reconstruction plates and miniplates have been tested for fixation of free fibula flaps. In a retrospective analysis of 143 mandibular reconstruction patients, no relationship was observed between the use of reconstruction plates or miniplates and complication rate [20]. Similarly, a meta-analysis including 511 patients showed no differences in the use of these two systems of fixation; however, clinical records showed that reconstruction plates were associated with both less complications and local exposure in the postoperative period than miniplates [21]. Parise et al. retrospectively evaluated 43 patients submitted to mandibular reconstruction with free fibular flap [22]. In the two cases in which system 2.4 reconstruction platers were used for fixation, the plate was exposed to the oral cavity during the postoperative period. Among the other 41 patients who received miniplates, only four (9.3%) were exposed. An additional study including 544 patients who received fibular grafts showed that miniplates are advantageous for presenting a lower profile and using screws of smaller diameters, thus decreasing their risk of exposure [23].
Recent advances in surgical planning using computer-aided design to manufacture (CAD/CAM) customized fixation plates represents a valuable improvement in mandibular reconstructive surgery [24].
The fibula can be adapted to correct different types of bone defects. However, the height of the fibula may not be adequate for vertical leveling with the residual receptor bone or for sequential alignment of the segments. In the present case, performance of a preprosthetic surgery with vestibulo-lingual sulcoplasty two years later, associated with a free skin graft according to Obwegeser [25], allowed the comfortable use of a total dental prosthesis. The soft tissues surrounding the fibular bone structure were retracted by incision and supraperiosteal divulsion in the alveolar ridge area and maintained at the level of the lower bone edge. A split thickness skin graft was removed from the anterior region of the thigh. The periosteal and epithelial bloody surfaces were transported and maintained superimposed by an acrylic tray, favoring the process of plasmatic imbibition and inosculation of blood vessels [26, 27] and leading to scarring.
Fourteen years later, the patient searched for an osseointegrated implant, a procedure which had been implemented by that time. Surprisingly, in the relevant clinical evaluation, we found a flat wide edge in the cortical bone surface, which was now very similar to an edentulous, ovoid-type mandible. This structure, however, did not have an adequate height for osseointegrated implant fixation. To improve its thickness, we planned a ¨sandwich¨ graft in the anterior region with iliac crest autogenous bone. The preparation of the receptor area involved longitudinal osteotomy and mobilization of the upper cortical segment, followed by interposition of a left and right cortico-medullary bone block fixed with microplates and screws The stable result was an approximately three-fold increase in the cortical height that had established during the long permanence of the grafted fibula, allowing the osseointegrated prosthetic rehabilitation that is still fully functional today.
The fibula flap method reported by Taylor et al. in 1975 [8] continues to be applied as originally described, especially where soft tissue damage is not extensive. Our group reported the use of this method for the repair of leg defects in 1981, with a detailed description of the microsurgical technique [28]. Use of this method in reconstructive surgery has been expanded by later advancements, such as the inclusion of a skin island to monitor viability of the flap as described by Yoshimura et al. in 1983 [29], clinical experiences with osteomyocutaneous flaps that have confirmed the endosteal and periostal blood supplies and enabled multiple osteotomies, as reported by Chen and Yan in 1983 [30], and the use of osteoseptocutaneous flaps by Wei et al. in 1986 [31]. Mandibular reconstruction with free osteoseptocutaneous fibula graft, as described by Yim and Wei in 1994 [32], confirmed the vascular anatomy with an extensive double blood supply, i.e., periostal and endothelial, which guarantees the viability of the graft despite the performance of multiple osteotomies.
In 1988, Jones et al. [33] described the "double-barreled" FVFF as a flap folded over its own base, maintaining the original vascularization and consequently having no need for additional anastomoses; this resulted in greater resistance to the structure of the lower limb, which is sometimes very thin. The method was extended, by Horiuchi et al. [34], into the fibula graft for mandibular reconstruction. The mean reported fibula thickness of 1.5 cm is similar to the description of the average 10–12 mm height of the fibula described by Kokosis et al. [14]. This height is considered inadequate to recover the 3–4 cm vertical dimension of the mandible, adding to 1 cm of the dental arch. According to Houriuchi et al. [34], the use of the double-barreled graft provides over 4 cm of alveolar height. Considering these values, our experience with the iliac crest graft in this case was rewarding, allowing the desired prosthetic rehabilitation.
In a sequence of publications, Sassi and collaborators presented promising variations of the double-barreled fibula autograft method used in total or partially edentulous areas, thus providing better conditions for subsequent implant-supported prosthetic rehabilitation in a single procedure [35–37]. Navarro Cuéllar et al. [38] compared various graft techniques, showing that double-barreled and iliac crest grafts present better stability in bone height, lower bone resorption, and higher success rates of the osseointegrated implant compared to vertical distraction. The authors also observed that, in patients undergoing radiotherapy, bone reconstruction was not affected, although the implants were less stable.
Since this first case of FVFF use in 1985 [11], the procedure remains the gold standard for mandibular reconstruction. Several advancements have been introduced, including preoperative planning with the use of computed tomography–based stereolithographic models, three-dimensional virtual surgical software, and the creation of patient-specific cutting guides [39]. As such, current flap survival rates are around 87–100% [40].
Many patients still experience residual difficulties however, especially relating to speaking and eating, as well as to aesthetic considerations that impact quality of life. The WHO defines quality of life as "an individual's perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns." For example, in a report of 213 free flap head and neck reconstructions, the overall flap success rate was 93.4%, although an unrestricted oral diet and intelligible speech were recovered in a lower percentage of patients, 76% and 88%, respectively [41]. In a retrospective review of 20 patients who underwent free fibula flap surgery for maxillofacial reconstruction, Alotaibi et al. observed improved outcomes, with 19 resuming a normal diet, 18 achieving good oral opening, and 17 patients with normal speech, normal occlusion, and an aesthetically good result [42]. In the long-term follow up reported here, the patient is satisfied with the functional outcomes of the procedure and has achieved normal feeding, speech, and head movement, with only a light restriction in mouth opening.
Despite a great number of literature reports on the results of mandibular reconstruction with vascularized bone grafts, there is still a lack of evidence relating to the long-term evaluation of the outcomes [43]. The present work represents the longest-term follow-up of a patient undergoing mandibular reconstruction with FVFF, attesting to the excellency of this surgical approach despite being performed without many of the advancements now available, returning the patient to a high-quality life for at least the past 38 years.