Orthopedic rehabilitation after computer assisted surgical reconstruction of the mandible using deep circumflex iliac artery grafts – a cross sectional study

Abstract Background: Computer Assisted Design and Computer Assisted Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) has revolutionized oncologic surgery of the head and neck. A multitude of benefits of this technique has been described, but there are only few reports of donor site comorbidity following CAD/CAM surgery. Methods: This study investigated comorbidity of the hip following deep circumflex iliac artery (DCIA) graft raising using CAD/CAM techniques. A cross-sectional examination was performed to determine range of motion, muscle strength and nerve disturbances. Furthermore, correlations between graft volume and skin incision length with postoperative orthopedic rehabilitation were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation, linear regression and analysis of variance (ANOVA).Results: Fifteen patients with a mean graft volume of 21.2 ± 5.7 cm3 and a mean incision length of 228.0 ± 30.0 mm were included. Patients reported of noticeable physical limitations in daily life activities (12.3 ± 11.9 weeks) and athletic activities (38.4 ± 40.0 weeks in mean) following surgery. Graft volume significantly correlated with the duration of the use of walking aids (R = 0.57; p = 0.033) and impairment in daily life activities (R = 0.65; p = 0.012). The length of the scar of the donor-site showed a statistically significant association with postoperative iliohypogastric nerve deficits (F = 4.4, p = 0.037). Patients with anaesthaesia of a peripheral cutaneous nerve had a larger mean scar length (280 ± 30.0 mm) than subjects with hypaesthesia (245 ± 10.1 mm) or no complaints (216 ± 27.7 mm). Conclusions: Despite sophisticated planning options in modern CAD/CAM surgery comorbidity of the donor site following microsurgery is still a problem. This study is the first to investigate comorbidity after DCIA graft raising in a patient group treated exclusively with CAD/CAM techniques. The results indicate that a minimal invasive approach in terms of small graft volumes and small skin incisions could help to reduce postoperative symptomatology.Trial registration: Retrospectively registered at the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS-ID: DRKS00029066); registration date: 23/05/2022.