Turkish Journal of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation; 32(3) ISSN 2651-4451 | e-ISSN 2651-446X www.turkjphysiotherrehabil.org 11393 EVALUATION OF SURVIVAL OF MICROVASCULAR FREE FLAPS FOR MANDIBULAR DEFECTS IN CRANIOFACIAL SURGERY: AN ORIGINAL RESEARCH Dr. Syed Manazir Hussain 1 , Dr. Priyatam Mishra 2 , Dr. P.I.Nainan 3 , Dr. Keshini MP 4 , Dr. M Rekha 5 , Dr. Nidhi Jenson Ukken 6 , Dr. Rahul VC Tiwari. 7 1 BDS MDS, OMFS & Implantologist, Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Al Badar Rural Dental College and Hospital Gulbarga, Karnataka. drmanazirglb@gmail.com 2 MDS, Oral and MaxilloFacial Surgeon, Private Practitioner, Bhubaneshwar, Odisha. priyatam.mishra@gmail.com 3 Senior Lecturer, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, RVS Dental College and Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. ninestar23@gmail.com 4 MDS, Senior resident, Dept of Craniofacial anomalies, Kanachur institute of medical Sciences, Natekal, Mangalore. keshini.mp@gmail.com 5 Professor, Dept of oral and maxillofacial surgery, RVS Dental college and Hospital, Trichy Road, sulur, coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. dr_mrekha@yahoo.co.in 6 Second year post graduate student, Department of oral and maxillofacial surgery, KVG Dental college and hospital, Kurunjibagh, sullia. nidhijenson1994@gmail.com 7 OMFS, FOGS, (MHA), PhD Scholar, Dept of OMFS, Narsinhbhai Patel Dental College and Hospital, Sankalchand Patel University, Visnagar, Gujarat, 384315. drrahulvctiwari@gmail.com ABSTRACT Introduction: We aim to evaluate the survival of microvascular free flaps for mandibular defects in craniofacial surgery. Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective study among 178 cases. They type of the defect and the flap used were registered. The complications, survival and the Functional and aesthetic assessments were compared. The p<0.05 was deliberated significant. Results: The rate of total flap necrosis involving the ilium and fibula was significantly higher than that of all other materials combined (p < 0.05). Regarding deglutition statistical analysis between pairs of soft-tissue-defect groups revealed there were significant differences (p < 0.05) between the none and the mucosal groups and also between the none and the through-and-through groups. Regarding speech, there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the none and the through-and-through groups. Regarding contour, there were significant differences (p < 0.01) between the none and the through-and-through groups and between the mucosal and the through-and-through groups. No significant difference was seen in the survival of the various flaps. Conclusion: We propose that when the bony defect is lateral, the ilium, fibula, or scapula should be chosen as the donor site, depending on the extent of the soft-tissue defect. When the bony defect is anterior, the fibula is always the best choice. When the soft-tissue defect is extensive or through-and-through with an anterior bony defect, the fibula should be used with other soft-tissue flaps. Key words: Survival, Microvascular Free Flaps, Mandibular Defects, Craniofacial Surgery. I. INTRODUCTION Mandibular reconstruction has been challenging reconstructive surgeons for many years, especially once the composite resection procedures for the tongue, jaw, and neck were developed.1 With the arrival of microsurgical