Comparing the Outcomes of Osteocutaneous Radial Forearm and Fibula Free Flaps in the Reconstruction of Mandibular Osteoradionecrosis

• Published in: Microsurgery Vol. 44; no. 7; pp. e31243 - n/a
• Main Authors: Al Afif, Ayham, Peña‐Garcia, Alex, Thomas, Carissa M., Kain, Joshua J., Grayson, Jessica W., Tipirneni, Kiranya E., Moore, Lindsay S., Jeyarajan, Hari, Sweeny, Larissa, Clemons, Lisa, Rosenthal, Eben L., Greene, Benjamin J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-10-2024; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Bone surgery; Complications; Diabetes mellitus; Diet; Female; Fibula; Fibula - transplantation; fibula free flap; Forearm; Forearm - surgery; Free Tissue Flaps - transplantation; Graft-versus-host reaction; head and neck cancer; Humans; Hypothyroidism; Impact analysis; Male; Mandible; Mandibular Diseases - etiology; Mandibular Diseases - surgery; Mandibular Reconstruction - methods; Microvasculature; Middle Aged; Morbidity; osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap; Osteoradionecrosis; Osteoradionecrosis - etiology; Osteoradionecrosis - surgery; Patients; Plastic Surgery Procedures - methods; Postoperative; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Reconstructive surgery; Regression analysis; Retrospective Studies; Skin grafts; Tobacco; Treatment Outcome; osteoradionecrosis; head and neck cancer; fibula free flap; osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap
• ISSN: 0738-1085; 1098-2752; 1098-2752
• DOI: 10.1002/micr.31243

ABSTRACT
Background
This study compares the outcomes of osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap (OC‐RFFF) and fibula free flap (FFF) reconstruction of mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN).
Methods
Retrospective review of patients undergoing OC‐RFFF/FFF reconstruction for mandible ORN between 2005 and 2020 at a tertiary center. Patient characteristics, postoperative complications, and functional outcomes were evaluated using chi‐squared and logistic regression analysis.
Results
Fifty‐six patients were included (OC‐RFFF: 38; FFF: 18). Significantly more OC‐RFFF patients had lateral mandible defects (94% vs. 61%, p = 0.0014). There were significantly more patients with exposed intraoral bone in the OC‐RFFF group (23% vs. 0% p = 0.02), but no significant differences in hardware complications or flap failure. Donor site partial skin graft loss was more common in the FFF group (22% vs. 2.6%, p = 0.016), but no other significant differences in donor site morbidity were seen. Bivariable analysis showed no impact of flap type, tobacco/alcohol use, diabetes, or hypothyroidism on postoperative complications. Sixty percent of OC‐RFFF, and 67% of FFF, patients resumed an oral diet after surgery. Oral diet was not impacted by flap type (OR = 0.769, 95% CI = 0.201–2.706, p = 0.688).
Conclusion
The OC‐RFFF is an acceptable option in the reconstruction of ORN involving the lateral mandible, though there is increased risk of bone exposure. These findings can help guide surgeon selection of microvascular free flap donor sites and appropriate patient counseling.