A retrospective study on application of fibula/iliac flap surgical techniques to mandibular defects

This study group consists of a total of 61 patients who underwent fibula flap and iliac flap surgeries to repair mandibular defects. Patients' Quality Of life (QOL) at 6 and 24 months after surgery is investigated and compared by the EORTC-QLQ-H&N and OHIP-14. The base data of the two groups of patients are collected and analysed by the SPSS 20.0 statistical software. Independent sample t test was conducted for EORTC-QLQ-H&N and OHIP-14 scores at two time points in each group. The 61 cases of free flap all survived and the difference in the location of the primary tumor between the two groups is statistically significant. The EORTC-QLQ-H&N showed that the score of speech, diet, social contact, and teeth all went up at 6 months after surgery, but went down dramatically at 24 months after surgery. The OHIP-14 showed that there was significant reduction in functional limitation at 24 months after surgery, with statistical significance (p < 0.05) between the groups of iliac flap (19.16 ± 5.33) and fibula flap (33.77 ± 7.71). Therefore, it is suggested that patients suffering from mandibular defects receive surgery utilizing the iliac flap, while those with a larger range of defects or lesions involving the condyle and chin should receive corrective surgery utilizing the fibular flap.