Jp. Anthony et al., ENHANCING FIBULA FREE-FLAP SKIN ISLAND RELIABILITY AND VERSATILITY FOR MANDIBULAR RECONSTRUCTION, Annals of plastic surgery, 31(2), 1993, pp. 106-111
Although the fibula osteocutaneous free flap has many advantages when
used in mandibular reconstruction, many investigators have found the s
kin island is not always reliable. We present a technique that enhance
s skin island reliability by including a maximal number of skin perfor
ators. This method has been used in 10 consecutive osteocutaneous free
flaps without any skin loss. This technique also expands the usefulne
ss of the fibula free flap, allowing it to be used for shorter bone de
fects or in cases when skin coverage is needed at a distance from the
bone. In addition, this method provides additional vascularized soft t
issue for neck contour restoration and coverage of fixation plates.