Technical note on the harvest of periosteal forearm composite free flaps in the treatment of early mandibular osteoradionecrotic injury

Vascularised periosteal free flap reconstruction for medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw: a case series

Introduction: The standard of care for medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) involves anti-biotics and local debridement to promote tissue healing over exposed bone. We compare outcomes for patients with advanced MRONJ managed with vascularised periosteal radial forearm free flap (RFFF) ver-sus local nasolabial flap and conservative dental measures. Methods: A retrospective case series of patients presenting to the Alfred Hospital for evaluation and man-agement of stage II or above MRONJ between 1 January 2014 and 30 June 2018. The hospital database was searched And a medical record review performed. Results of pre- and post-treatment imaging were ana-lysed bya single senior radiologist blinded to treatment modality . Asymptomatic wound closure, radio-logical evidence of disease cessation and patient satisfaction at six months post-treatment according to treatment type were assessed. Results: Of the ten patients included in the study, four received dental measures, three received local na-solabial flap and three received RFFF flap. All flap reconstruction (6/6) showed asymptomatic wound clo-sure and patient satisfaction at six months follow-up compared to patients managed with dental measures (1/4). All RFFF patients (3/3) showed increased bone deposition radiologically at six months compared to the dental group who showed a mixed (3/4) picture or worsened (1/4) picture. Nasolabial flap patients showed a mixed (2/3) or improved radiological picture (1/3). Conclusion: MRONJ is a relapsing disease. Preliminary evidence suggests that radical debridement with local nasolabial flap or RFFF reconstruction for advanced MRONJ is more effective at halting the disease and alleviating morbidity than conservative dental measures alone.

Vestibuloplasty for immediate dental implantation in fibular free flap for oral cancer patients undergoing mandibulectomy reconstruction: A technical note

Vestibuloplasty is fundamental to restore an oral vestibule for immediate dental implantation in fibular free flap (FFF) for oral cancer patients undergoing mandibulectomy reconstruction. Double surgical team including reconstructive head and neck surgeon and a dental surgeon is fundamental. The first step of the vestibuloplasty is to identify the skin perforator. The second step is to thin the FFF skin island as much as necessary to facilitate: i-the reinset into the gingivobuccal sulcus while creating enough space in the oral vestibule for the future dental prosthesis and ii-the exposition of dental implants. The third step is to create a percutaneous access to the implants through the FFF skin paddle using a dermatologic punch while preserving a large oral vestibule. The fourth step is the skin reinsertion into the gingivobuccal sulcus and closure. Realizing vestibuloplasty before radiotherapy allows prevention of soft tissue contraction and osteoradionecrosis while reducing the necessary time for a complete dental rehabilitation and improving patient quality of life.

Free Periosteal Flaps with Scaffold: An Overlooked Armamentarium for Maxillary and Mandibular Reconstruction

Simple Summary

Head and neck bone reconstruction with revascularized free periosteal flaps and scaffold is an overlooked option in the literature. Aim of the present paper was to systematically analyse the results of maxillary and mandibular reconstruction with this technique. We found a total of 7 studies with 55 patients fitting with our inclusion criteria. The overall rate of complications was 43.7%. The success rate intended as scaffold integration resulted to be 74.5%. Our paper therefore highlighted that maxillary and mandibular reconstruction with revascularized free periosteal flaps and scaffold is a possible alternative in patient unable to bone free flap complex reconstruction, with a success rate higher to that of other secondary options.

Abstract

Introduction: Head and neck bone reconstruction is a challenging surgical scenario. Although several strategies have been described in the literature, bone free flaps (BFFs) have become the preferred technique for large defects. Revascularized free periosteal flaps (FPFs) with support scaffold represents a possible alternative in compromised patient, BFF failure, or relapsing cancers as salvage treatment. However, only few clinical applications in head and neck are reported in literature. Purpose of the study was to systematically analyse the results of functional and oncologic maxillary and mandibular reconstruction with FPF with scaffold. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive review of the dedicated literature was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines searching on Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Embase, Researchgate and Google Scholar databases using relevant keywords, phrases and medical subject headings (MeSH) terms. An excursus on the most valuable FPF’ harvesting sites was also carried out. Results: A total of 7 studies with 55 patients were included. Overall, the majority of the patients (n = 54, 98.1%) underwent an FPF reconstruction of the mandibular site. The most used technique was the radial forearm FPF with autologous frozen bone as scaffold (n = 40, 72.7%). The overall rate of complications was 43.7%. The success rate intended as scaffold integration resulted to be 74.5%. Conclusions: Maxillary and mandibular reconstruction with FPF and scaffold is a possible alternative in patient unfit for complex BFF reconstruction and it should be considered as a valid alternative in the sequential salvage surgery for locally advanced cancer. Moreover, it opens future scenarios in head and neck reconstructive surgery, as a promising tool that can be modelled to tailor complex 3D defects, with less morbidities to the donor site.

A twostep supraclavicular flap method in head and neck reconstruction for refractory osteoradionecrosis

Techniques of reconstructive surgery of the head and neck region have existed since Antiquity, with the pedicled forehead flap of Susruta as a reference. These methods are constantly evolving, with the introduction of free flaps in the 1980s, and more recently new technologies such as CAD-CAM. However, the surgical management of patients treated by radiotherapy for upper airway cancers remains a challenge in terms of functional and aesthetic results. Indeed, cervical irradiation, which alters the quality of skin and vascular tissue, jeopardizes good healing after head and neck reconstructive surgery. In this article, the authors proposed to revisit the standard technique of the pedicled supraclavicular flap. Flap design inspired from the known and described technique of the two-stage forehead flap, for the management of a fragile patient with refractory mandibular osteoradionecrosis.

Augmented Reality-Assisted Periosteum Pedicled Flap Harvesting for Head and Neck Reconstruction: An Anatomical and Clinical Viability Study of a Galeo-Pericranial Flap

Head and neck reconstructive surgeons have recently explored new perspectives in bone restoration using periosteum carrier flaps. Following this idea, we explored the possibility of harvesting a galeo-pericranial flap. The present work studies the vascular supply of the pericranial temporo-parietal region in order to assess the possibility of harvesting a galeo-pericranial flap based on the superficial temporalis vascularization. Anatomical dissections were performed at the Anatomical Institute of the University of Bologna on eight donor cadavers. Then we performed the harvesting of the flap in vivo on eight patients. We introduced augmented reality (AR) to facilitate anatomical visualisation during free flap harvesting. Augmented reality merges virtual and actual objects, allowing direct observation of patient anatomy and the surgical field. No post-operative major or minor complications occurred. We encountered no post-operative functional issues on the donor or recipient sites, and good clinical healing was observed in all patients. In conclusion, we believe that the galea-pericranium flap could represent a new donor site for the harvesting of a periosteum carrier flap.