[Occlusal function-guided mandibular reconstruction with vascularized folded fibula flap after benign tumor resection].

Objective: To evaluate clinical outcomes of occlusion-guided vascularized folded fibula flap reconstruction with delayed implant restoration for mandibular defects after benign tumor resection. Methods: A total of 12 patients with benign mandibular tumors underwent free folded fibula flap reconstruction at the First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University between January 2020 and December 2023, including 7 males and 5 females, aged 21-52 years. Six months after mandibular reconstruction, the internal fixation titanium plates were removed, and dental implants were placed using a preoperatively fabricated occlusal guide, followed by second-stage implant surgery and prosthetic restoration. Mandibular CT scans were obtained 6 months after reconstruction to compare the fitting accuracy between the preoperative virtual design and the actual reconstructed mandible. The implant stability quotient (ISQ) was measured 3 months after implant placement. Masticatory efficiency and Enneking lower limb function scores were evaluated at the following time points: before tumor surgery (T1), before implant placement (T2), 6 months (T3) and 9 months (T4) after implant crown restoration. One-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze the masticatory efficiency and lower limb function scores. Results: The free folded fibula grafts were successfully performed via an intraoral approach in all 12 patients, with a 100% of survival rate. Mandibular defects included Brown class I in 6 cases, class II in 2 cases, and class III in 4 cases. A total of 42 implants were placed with successful osseointegration. The ISQ measured at 3 months post-placement was 64.10±4.18. At 6 months postoperatively, morphological analysis comparing the preoperative virtual surgical design with the actual postoperative reconstructed mandible revealed a reconstruction accuracy of 84.27%±4.23%. Significant differences were observed in Enneking scores and masticatory efficiency across all four time points (all P<0.001). Masticatory function showed significant improvement at T4 compared that at T2 [(88.06±3.66)% vs. (65.44±3.82)%, P<0.05]. Conclusion: Occlusal function-guided mandibular reconstruction with vascularized folded fibula flap after removal of benign mandibular tumors is a reliable method, which is associated with minimal donor-site morbidity and enables patients to restore precise occlusion and to achieve favorable masticatory efficiency.