Early Second Free Flap is Required in Osteoradionecrosis-related Nonunion after Primary Mandible Reconstruction

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) manifested as symptomatic nonunion between primary free flap and native mandible after primary bony reconstruction of the mandible is an entity not included in current conventional ORN staging guidelines. This article reports on and proposes early management of this debilitating condition using a chimeric scapular tip free flap (STFF).

A retrospective review was performed examining cases with bony nonunion at the junction of primary free fibula flap (FFF) and native mandible at a single center over a 10-year duration, which required a second free bone flap. Details of each case (patient demographics, oncological details, primary surgery, presentation, and secondary surgery) were documented and analyzed. Outcomes of the treatment were assessed.

Four patients (two men and two women; age range, 42-73 years) out of a total of 46 primary FFF were identified. All patients presented with symptoms of low-grade ORN and radiological signs of nonunion. All cases were reconstructed with chimeric STFF. The duration of follow-up ranged from 5 to 20 months. All patients reported resolution of symptoms and radiological evidence of union. Two of four patients subsequently received osseointegrated dental implants.

Institutional rate of nonunion after primary FFF requiring a second free bone flap is 8.7%. All the patients of this cohort presented with a similar clinical entity easily discounted as an infected nonunion postosseous flap reconstruction. There is no ORN grading system that currently guides the management of this cohort. Good outcomes are possible with early surgical intervention with a chimeric STFF.