Dental implant-based oral rehabilitation in patients reconstructed with free fibula flaps: Clinical study with a follow-up 3 to 6 years.

BACKGROUND: Oral rehabilitation of patients after maxillofacial reconstructive surgery represents a challenge and stable prosthetic retention can be achieved with the use of dental implants. PURPOSE: This retrospective report aimed to evaluate implant-based oral rehabilitation following maxillofacial reconstruction with free fibula flaps. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 14 patients who had reconstruction with fibula flaps either by CAD/CAM or conventional surgery were included in this study. A total of 56 implants (40 in flaps, 16 in native bone) were evaluated. Follow-up after reconstructive surgery ranged between 3.25 and 6.3 years. Follow-up after implant surgery ranged between 1.5 and 3.8 years. RESULTS: Overall survival rate was 85.7% in free fibula flaps and 85.6% in dental implants. Eight implants were lost in three patients and all of these failures were in dental implants inserted in free flaps. According to the results on patient basis, the implant survival was not influenced by any variable. CONCLUSIONS: The maxillofacial reconstruction with free fibula flap and oral rehabilitation with implant-supported prostheses after ablative surgery can be considered as an effective and safe procedure with successful aesthetic and functional outcomes.