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DiscussionMandible Reconstruction with Fibula Free Flap. Is this an option?
Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: Oct 23 3:41pm | Replies (58)Comment receiving replies
Replies to "Thanks for sharing. I will be traveling to mayo to have the same thing done. I..."
Hi Darcy. For the surgical team to set up for resection surgery it will take them several weeks.
They will take various photos of your head which helps with the rebuilding. A CT scan is incorporated into a computer aided design (CAD) program so a 3-D printer can build a jig or fixture used to make the correct size and shape bone replacement section. All of this takes time behind the scene along with surgical coordination meetings and hospital schedules.
The number of people involved including during the surgery will astound you.
For me the it was about four months from initial consult and photos until surgery including a month while I thought about it and adjusted my schedule as well before giving the go-ahead.
Ten months after surgery I was eating corn on the cob, butter dripping down my chin, smile on my face. It was the first time in almost fifteen years being able to do that.