Esthetic reconstruction of iliac crest donor deffect with tow titanium plates after harvesting a dcia composite free flap

ABSTRACT

Deep circumflex iliac artery (DCIA) flap can be harvested as a composite free flap and is often used to adequately reconstruct wide mandibular defects. However, the harvesting of this DCIA flap can result in severe osseous defect of the donor site causing a morphologic defect in the iliac crest. To reconstruct this defect of the iliac donor site, several innovative techniques using bioactive ceramic spacers, autogenous rib bone, polylactic acid mesh, or titanium plates have been introduced. Nonetheless, these methods have not been widely used due to high cost, secondary donor site morbidity, difficulty of use, and postoperative dissatisfaction. We used two titanium plates to reconstruct the donor iliac site defect at the harvesting time of primary DCIA flap surgery in the 30-year old female with an ameloblastoma in the left mandible. Postoperatively, both iliac sites were relatively balanced and there were few complications. At the 2 years follow-up, there were no specific abnormal radiographic findings and the patient was very satisfied with her esthetic iliac contouring. In our report, we evaluate the effect of two titanium plates on the reconstruction of the iliac donor site in the aspects of esthetics and usefulness. This technique has many advantages, such as reduced cost, simplicity, decreased postoperative pain or discomfort, and improved bilateral balance of both anterior iliac crest contours, especially in young female patients.