Use of Porous Implants for the Prosthetic Rehabilitation of Fibula Free Flap Reconstructed Patients

Vascularized free flaps represent today the gold standard in Maxillo-Facial reconstructive treatment of the upper and lower compromised maxillas. The aim of this study is to perform the advantages and disadvantages of the vascularized fibula free flap and the available rehabilitation options with porous implants. In this study the authors analyzed 45 patients with 211 inserted implants treated and reconstructed with vascularized fibula flaps. The authors compared the use of 103 titanium tapered implants (with micro rough surface) versus 108 tantalum-titanium porous implants to evaluate the bone reabsorption and implant survival. Immediate implant stability, the peri-implant reabsorption, and the survival were evaluated. The follow-up was after 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. The authors found that for the 108 Zimmer TM they had an average bone loss of 1mm +/- 0.2mm after 1 year of follow-up, compared with the other implants where the average bone loss was 2.27mm +/- 0.4. This study demonstrated that the problems caused by different fibula flaps level, compared with the mandibula or, with adjacent teeth in the maxilla, can be solved using TM porous implants that almost duplicate the fixture surface and guarantees long life prognosis to the authors' prosthetic devices.