Free compound groin flap reconstruction of anterior mandibular defect

The free compound groin flap has been used to reconstruct anterior mandibular defects in four patients. The bone grafts have remained viable despite being placed in irradiated and contaminated fields. Partial intraoral exposure of two of the bone grafts did not interfere with their viability. Positive technetium Tc 99m pyrophosphate scanning, histology, and tetracycline labeling of the bony part of the composite flap indicate the maintenance of osseous viability without a transitory substitution phase for bone remodeling as seen in conventional bone grafts. Bone viability as it relates to blood supply of the free osteocutaneous groin flap is discussed.