Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of digitally assisted design of surgical template for fibular composite tissue flap in reconstruction of segmental mandibular defect with soft tissue defect.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 30 patients who were treated at the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the 920th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of Chinese PLA from July 2020 to May 2024 for segmental mandibular defects combined with soft tissue defect. The cohort comprised 19 males and 11 females and aged 11-71 years (44.33 years±15.31 years). Pathological diagnoses of the patients were ameloblastoma (14 cases), squamous cell carcinoma (9 cases), osteomyelitis (4 cases), and odontogenic keratocyst (3 cases). Primary reconstructive surgery were performed on 21 patients after surgical resection of lesions, and 9 patients received secondary reconstructive surgery. The length of mandibular defect ranged from 75.83 mm to 111.45 mm (87.31 mm±12.00 mm), and soft tissue defects were measured at 5.0 cm×1.8 cm to 8.6 cm×2.1 cm (mean area 13.63 cm 2±2.42 cm 2). Preoperative CTA was performed to locate the perforator of peroneal artery and for design of digital surgical template. Intraoperatively, a modified fibula composite tissue flap harvesting technique was employed and that involved in: CTA-guided perforator planning, fibula osteotomy, anterior intermuscular septum exposure for identifying the peroneal artery, and a digital template-assisted fibula crafting for reconstruction of mandibule and soft tissue defect. Postoperative follow-ups were conducted at 1, 3, and 6 months, followed by quarterly reviews at outpatient clinic or via telephone interviews. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 27.0 software with descriptive statistical methods. Results:After surgery, all the fibula composite tissue flaps were viable and the incision wound healed well. Two patients had partial necroses at distal edge of the flaps, and they were healed after treatment. One patient had donor site infection and healed after anti-infective treatment. One month after the surgery, patients were assessed according to the recovery of face, mouth opening and occlusion, of which 25 patients (83.3%) were rated of Grade I, 4 (13.3%) of Grade Ⅱ, and 1 (3.4%) of Grade Ⅳ, with an excellent and good rates of 96.6%. The average distance of condylar movement on the affected side was 1.28 mm±0.35 mm. Postoperative follow-up lasted for 10 to 22 months, with 19.17 months±2.14 months in average. Assessment at the final follow-up was found that a total of 26 patients (86.8%) were of Grade I, 3 (10.0%) of Grade Ⅱ, and 1 (3.3%) of Grade Ⅳ and all the transferred fibula showed good alignment with the mandible over the postoperative follow-up period.Conclusion:Digital template-assisted design of fibular composite tissue flap enables a precise vascular protection, individualised osteotomy and functional restoration in reconstruction of segmental mandibular defect with soft tissue defect. It demonstrates a high clinical feasibility.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of digitally assisted design of surgical template for fibular composite tissue flap in reconstruction of segmental mandibular defect with soft tissue defect.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 30 patients who were treated at the Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the 920th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of Chinese PLA from July 2020 to May 2024 for segmental mandibular defects combined with soft tissue defect. The cohort comprised 19 males and 11 females and aged 11-71 years (44.33 years±15.31 years). Pathological diagnoses of the patients were ameloblastoma (14 cases), squamous cell carcinoma (9 cases), osteomyelitis (4 cases), and odontogenic keratocyst (3 cases). Primary reconstructive surgery were performed on 21 patients after surgical resection of lesions, and 9 patients received secondary reconstructive surgery. The length of mandibular defect ranged from 75.83 mm to 111.45 mm (87.31 mm±12.00 mm), and soft tissue defects were measured at 5.0 cm×1.8 cm to 8.6 cm×2.1 cm (mean area 13.63 cm 2±2.42 cm 2). Preoperative CTA was performed to locate the perforator of peroneal artery and for design of digital surgical template. Intraoperatively, a modified fibula composite tissue flap harvesting technique was employed and that involved in: CTA-guided perforator planning, fibula osteotomy, anterior intermuscular septum exposure for identifying the peroneal artery, and a digital template-assisted fibula crafting for reconstruction of mandibule and soft tissue defect. Postoperative follow-ups were conducted at 1, 3, and 6 months, followed by quarterly reviews at outpatient clinic or via telephone interviews. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 27.0 software with descriptive statistical methods. Results:After surgery, all the fibula composite tissue flaps were viable and the incision wound healed well. Two patients had partial necroses at distal edge of the flaps, and they were healed after treatment. One patient had donor site infection and healed after anti-infective treatment. One month after the surgery, patients were assessed according to the recovery of face, mouth opening and occlusion, of which 25 patients (83.3%) were rated of Grade I, 4 (13.3%) of Grade Ⅱ, and 1 (3.4%) of Grade Ⅳ, with an excellent and good rates of 96.6%. The average distance of condylar movement on the affected side was 1.28 mm±0.35 mm. Postoperative follow-up lasted for 10 to 22 months, with 19.17 months±2.14 months in average. Assessment at the final follow-up was found that a total of 26 patients (86.8%) were of Grade I, 3 (10.0%) of Grade Ⅱ, and 1 (3.3%) of Grade Ⅳ and all the transferred fibula showed good alignment with the mandible over the postoperative follow-up period.Conclusion:Digital template-assisted design of fibular composite tissue flap enables a precise vascular protection, individualised osteotomy and functional restoration in reconstruction of segmental mandibular defect with soft tissue defect. It demonstrates a high clinical feasibility.