What Researchers Did
Researchers retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 44 patients who underwent mandibular reconstruction with fibula flaps to evaluate the success of 206 implants placed in radiated fibula flaps and native mandibles.
What They Found
Out of 206 implants, 31 failed, resulting in an overall success rate of 85%. Implants in fibula flaps had an 82.4% success rate, while those in native mandibles had an 88% success rate. Notably, 90% of fibula flap implant failures occurred within the first 6 months.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients undergoing mandibular reconstruction with fibula flaps, especially those who have received radiation, can expect a high overall implant success rate. However, implants in fibula flaps may have a slightly lower success rate and earlier failures compared to those in native mandibles.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A limitation of this study is its retrospective design, which may introduce inherent biases and limit control over variables.