Assessment of Donor Site Morbidity Following Fibula Flap Transfer.

[PURPOSE] To assess donor site morbidity for patients who underwent mandibular reconstruction by fibula free flap.

[PATIENTS AND METHODS] The data were recorded from medical records and clinical questioner of patients from 2013 to 2016. Predictor variables were drawn from demographics of patients who had mandible defect reconstructed with free fibula flap. The outcome variables were drawn from point evaluation system for pain, walking ability, activities of daily living, gait alteration, cosmetic appearance using validated 10-point self-assessment scale. The assessment was done postoperatively at intervals of 15 days, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months. ANOVA test was used to measure the statistical significance.

[RESULTS] There was significant reduction in perception of pain, significant improvement in walking ability, activities of daily living, gait and cosmetic appearance postoperatively after 6 months ( < 0.005).

[CONCLUSION] Point evaluation system is a simple and effective tool to understand the postoperative morbidity. Donor site morbidity following fibula harvest was low without any major complications.