Radiotherapy and Smoking History Are Significant Independent Predictors for Osteosynthesis-Associated Late Complications in Vascular Free Fibula Reconstruction of Mandible.

BACKGROUND

The vascular fibula flap is an ideal choice for function and appearance reconstruction of mandible. Despite the high success rate, "late complications" such as Ti plate exposure and local infection related to osteosynthesis are not uncommon.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

A retrospective cohort of patients who received vascular fibula reconstruction for mandible from January 2011 to December 2013 from the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Oncology in a tertiary hospital were charted: clinical, pathological, and therapeutic factors were analyzed for late complications in univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

One hundred forty-two patients were finally analyzed with median follow-up time of 47 months; 19 of them had "late complications," which occurred at a median of 8 months. Preoperative or postoperative radiotherapy (P = 0.02), type of Ti plate (P = 0.019), and the disease characteristics (P = 0.02) were significant factors on univariate. Cox regression suggested postoperative radiation (P = 0.009) and smoking history (P = 0.037) were independent significant factors for late complications. Secondary reconstruction (P = 0.069) and preoperative radiotherapy (P = 0.086) were borderline significant.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative radiation and smoking history are associated with late complications. Mini Ti plate should be less used. Patients with risk factors need to be observed for at least 6 to 16 months before further management.