1.Factors affecting anastomosis failure in microvascular fibula flap reconstruction of the maxillofacial region:a systematic review and meta-analysis
Elahe TAHMASEBI ; Samira HAJISADEGHI ; Shervin SHAFIEI ; Hamidreza MOSLEMI ; Reza TABRIZI ; Mohammad Hosein Kalantar MOTAMEDI
Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 2025;51(1):3-16
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the contributory factors and failure rates in anastomosis during microvascular fibula flap reconstruction in maxillomandibular regions. A comprehensive search strategy was employed across databases including MEDLINE, Web of Science,EMBASE, Scopus, Cochraneʼs CENTRAL, as well as grey literature sources, and manual searches of noteworthy journals, covering studies frominception up to April 2023. The inclusion criteria targeted retrospective or prospective cohort and clinical studies that investigated functional and dental rehabilitation outcomes in human subjects undergoing maxillofacial reconstruction using microvascular fibula flaps. Exclusion criteria encompassedcase-control studies, alternative reconstruction method research, and animal-based investigations. The studyʼs findings revealed a cumulative vascularfailure rate of 6%. Subsequent analysis delineated the primary causes of this failure, attributing 3% to venous thrombosis, 1% to arterial thrombosis, and less than 1% to blood vessel compression due to hematoma. However, notable heterogeneity across the studies indicates substantial variability in vascular failure rates reported. These results of our review and meta-analysis underscore the intricate factors impacting anastomosis success, such as anastomosis technique, recipient vessel quality, the choice between couplers.
2.Factors affecting anastomosis failure in microvascular fibula flap reconstruction of the maxillofacial region:a systematic review and meta-analysis
Elahe TAHMASEBI ; Samira HAJISADEGHI ; Shervin SHAFIEI ; Hamidreza MOSLEMI ; Reza TABRIZI ; Mohammad Hosein Kalantar MOTAMEDI
Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 2025;51(1):3-16
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the contributory factors and failure rates in anastomosis during microvascular fibula flap reconstruction in maxillomandibular regions. A comprehensive search strategy was employed across databases including MEDLINE, Web of Science,EMBASE, Scopus, Cochraneʼs CENTRAL, as well as grey literature sources, and manual searches of noteworthy journals, covering studies frominception up to April 2023. The inclusion criteria targeted retrospective or prospective cohort and clinical studies that investigated functional and dental rehabilitation outcomes in human subjects undergoing maxillofacial reconstruction using microvascular fibula flaps. Exclusion criteria encompassedcase-control studies, alternative reconstruction method research, and animal-based investigations. The studyʼs findings revealed a cumulative vascularfailure rate of 6%. Subsequent analysis delineated the primary causes of this failure, attributing 3% to venous thrombosis, 1% to arterial thrombosis, and less than 1% to blood vessel compression due to hematoma. However, notable heterogeneity across the studies indicates substantial variability in vascular failure rates reported. These results of our review and meta-analysis underscore the intricate factors impacting anastomosis success, such as anastomosis technique, recipient vessel quality, the choice between couplers.
3.Factors affecting anastomosis failure in microvascular fibula flap reconstruction of the maxillofacial region:a systematic review and meta-analysis
Elahe TAHMASEBI ; Samira HAJISADEGHI ; Shervin SHAFIEI ; Hamidreza MOSLEMI ; Reza TABRIZI ; Mohammad Hosein Kalantar MOTAMEDI
Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons 2025;51(1):3-16
This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the contributory factors and failure rates in anastomosis during microvascular fibula flap reconstruction in maxillomandibular regions. A comprehensive search strategy was employed across databases including MEDLINE, Web of Science,EMBASE, Scopus, Cochraneʼs CENTRAL, as well as grey literature sources, and manual searches of noteworthy journals, covering studies frominception up to April 2023. The inclusion criteria targeted retrospective or prospective cohort and clinical studies that investigated functional and dental rehabilitation outcomes in human subjects undergoing maxillofacial reconstruction using microvascular fibula flaps. Exclusion criteria encompassedcase-control studies, alternative reconstruction method research, and animal-based investigations. The studyʼs findings revealed a cumulative vascularfailure rate of 6%. Subsequent analysis delineated the primary causes of this failure, attributing 3% to venous thrombosis, 1% to arterial thrombosis, and less than 1% to blood vessel compression due to hematoma. However, notable heterogeneity across the studies indicates substantial variability in vascular failure rates reported. These results of our review and meta-analysis underscore the intricate factors impacting anastomosis success, such as anastomosis technique, recipient vessel quality, the choice between couplers.
4.Outcomes and influential factors in functional and dental rehabilitation following microvascular fibula flap reconstruction in the maxillomandibular region:a systematic review and meta‑analysis
Elahe TAHMASEBI ; Elham KEYKHA ; Samira HAJISADEGHI ; Hamidreza MOSLEMI ; Shervin SHAFIEI ; Mohammad Hosein KALANTAR MOTAMEDI ; Arman TORABIZADEH ; Reza TABRIZI ; Mostafa ALAM
Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2023;45(1):24-
Background:
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the factors influencing and success rates of dental implants for functional and dental rehabilitation following microvascular fibula flap reconstruction in the maxillomandibular region.Main text We conducted a comprehensive search of electronic databases, including MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane’s CENTRAL, as well as gray literature sources and manual searches of notable journals.The search was performed from inception until February 2023. Studies were included if they examined functional and dental rehabilitation outcomes in patients receiving maxillofacial reconstruction using microvascular fibula flaps and were retrospective or prospective cohort studies involving human subjects. Case–control studies, research involving other reconstruction methods, and animal-based studies were excluded. Data was extracted and confirmed by two independent researchers, and risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Meta-analyses were conducted for dental implant and graft success rate, with separate analyses for different factors affecting the outcome.Heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochran’s Q test and the I 2 test. The pooled success rate for implants was 92% and for grafts, 95%, with significant heterogeneity. Implants in fibular grafts had a 2.91 times higher failure rate than those in natural bones. Radiated bone and smoking were identified as factors influencing implant failure, with radiated bone having a 2.29 times higher risk and smokers having a 3.16 times higher risk compared to their respective counterparts. Patient-reported outcomes showed improvements in key areas such as dietary intake, mastication, speech, and esthetics. The success rates declined over time, emphasizing the importance of long-term follow-up.
Conclusions
Dental implants in free fibula grafts generally have favorable success rates, with minimal bone resorption, manageable probing depths, and limited bleeding on probing. Implant success is influenced by factors such as smoking and radiated bone.