Long-Term Changes in Bone Height After Mandibular Reconstruction Using a Free Fibula Graft in an Elderly Population

This study evaluated short-term and long-term changes in bone height after mandibular reconstruction using an osteotomized fibula graft, with the aim of identifying factors associated with atrophy of the graft in an elderly population.

This retrospective study involved patients who underwent mandibular reconstruction using a free vascularized fibula graft from 2005 through 2015 and had at least 12 months of follow-up. Postoperative panoramic radiographs were used to measure bone height at standardized locations on each segment of the graft at 1 year postoperatively and at later follow-up.

The sample was composed of 30 patients (15 men, 15 women; mean age, 62.6 years; age range, 50 to 80 years). According to the HCL classification (H, hemimandibular segment including the condyle; C, central segment including both mandibular canine teeth; L, lateral segment without the condyle), mandibular defect types were L (n = 19), LC (n = 7), LCL (n = 3), and H (n = 1). There were 0 to 3 segmental osteotomies with the fibula graft. None of the patients received an osseointegrated dental implant during a mean follow-up of 4.0 years (range, 1.5 to 9.7 yr). All patients underwent reconstruction of the mandibular body, 10 of whom also underwent reconstruction of the mandibular ramus. Atrophy of the fibula graft was observed in 9.9 and 15.0% of the body segment and 5.9 and 6.6% of the ramal segment at 1 year postoperatively and at later follow-up, respectively. Graft hypertrophy occurred in the ramal segment in 2 patients. Multivariate analysis showed a significantly higher rate of graft atrophy in women than in men at later follow-up (P = .033).

Fibula grafts showed long-term stability, and in 2 cases even a gain in bone height, in this elderly population. Female gender was identified as a risk factor for atrophy of the fibula bone graft in the body segment of the reconstructed mandible.