Clinicoanatomic examination of the fibula: Anatomic basis for dental implant placement

The advantages of the free vascularized fibular flap include its ability to be shaped with relative ease and to be grafted at the same time tumors are resected, with consequent reduction in operation time. In addition, few co mplications occur at donor sites. However, a large, systematic, and detaile d investigation of clinicoanatomic problems of the fibula has not been perf ormed. Therefore, in the present study, the fibula was examined morphologic ally and morphometrically, with special attention to regions important in t he placement of dental implants. Eighty fibulae obtained from cadavers of 4 1 Japanese individuals aged 46 to 92 years (mean, 72.7 years) were fixed wi th 70% alcohol after infusion of about 6 liters of 10% formalin via the fem oral artery. Morphometric examination showed the nutrient foramen was locat ed posteriorly in 85.0% of sections, the maximal width of fibular cross sec tions was 13.1 mm, and the maximal cortical thickness of fibular cross sect ions was 4.1 mm.