Microvascular Free Flaps in Mandibular Reconstruction—The Role of Computational Fluid Dynamics Modelling

摘要

Mandibular composite defects due to traumatic amputation or oncological resection, often involves reconstruction using vascularised free flaps. Micro-vascular anastomoses are needed in the tissue revascularization (Wain in J plast Reconstr Aesthetic surg JPRAS 67:951-959, [1]). Success rates in the order of 95% and above are enjoyed in the micro-vascular tissue autotransplantation (Rickard in J Surg Res 153:1-11, [2]). There are few computational studies done to further understand the fluid dynamics in the free tissue transfer graft. The areas of interests include the blood flow in vessels of different calibre, the flow dynamics in different sections of the free flap and the flow differences during the insetting of the flap at different rotations and angles. At present, there is no standard computational model to study the fluid dynamics in these flaps. Profound knowledge of the fluid dynamics of the flaps will have vast clinical applications and potential to ensure better clinical outcomes. There are thus many areas of possible collaboration and development in computational modelling research between the bio-engineers and the clinicians.