Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal: Diagnostics

Volume number: 11

Issue number: 10

eISSN: 2075-4418

Open access status: Gold

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11101865

Publisher: MDPI

Abstract: 
Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is widely used in preoperative evaluation of the lower limbs' vascular system for virtual surgical planning (VSP) of fibula free flap (FFF) for jaw reconstruction. The present retrospective clinical study analysed n = 72 computed tomography angiographies (CTA) of lower limbs for virtual surgical planning (VSP) for jaw reconstruction. The purpose of the investigation was to evaluate the morphology of the fibular bone and its vascular supply in CTA imaging, and further, the amount and distribution of periosteal branches (PB) and septo-cutaneous perforators (SCPs) of the fibular artery. A total of 144 lower limbs was assessed (mean age: 58.5 & PLUSMN; 15.3 years; 28 females, 38.9%; 44 males, 61.1%). The vascular system was categorized as regular (type I-A to II-C) in 140 cases (97.2%) regarding the classification by Kim. Absent anterior tibial artery (type III-A, n = 2) and posterior tibial artery (type III-B, n = 2) were detected in the left leg. Stenoses were observed mostly in the fibular artery (n = 11), once in the anterior tibial artery, and twice in the posterior tibial artery. In total, n = 361 periosteal branches (PBs) and n = 231 septo-cutaneous perforators (SCPs) were recorded. While a distribution pattern for PBs was separated into two clusters, a more tripartite distribution pattern for SCPs was found. We conclude that conventional CTA for VSP of free fibula flap (FFF) is capable of imaging and distinguishing SCPs and PBs.

Harvard Citation style: Knitschke, M., Baumgart, A., Baecker, C., Adelung, C., Roller, F., Schmermund, D., et al. (2021) Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) before Reconstructive Jaw Surgery Using Fibula Free Flap: Retrospective Analysis of Vascular Architecture, Diagnostics, 11(10), Article 1865. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11101865

APA Citation style: Knitschke, M., Baumgart, A., Baecker, C., Adelung, C., Roller, F., Schmermund, D., Boettger, S., Howaldt, H., & Attia, S. (2021). Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) before Reconstructive Jaw Surgery Using Fibula Free Flap: Retrospective Analysis of Vascular Architecture. Diagnostics. 11(10), Article 1865. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11101865