From Digital Planning to Definitive Rehabilitation After Fibula Free Flap Mandibular Reconstruction: A Focused Narrative Review of Outcome Reporting

Objective: This focused narrative review examines how studies of digitally planned fibula-free flap mandibular reconstruction report outcomes beyond bony accuracy, with particular attention to restorative, functional, and patient-reported outcomes following structural reconstruction. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and the Web of Science Core Collection were searched for studies on fibula free flap mandibular reconstruction that addressed digital planning, structural outcomes, dental rehabilitation, function, or patient-reported outcomes. Reports were grouped as digital-workflow studies, comparative digital-workflow studies, rehabilitation-context studies, or technical-feasibility reports, and the outcomes described in each report were summarized. Results: The reviewed reports covered structural accuracy, implant or restorative progression, definitive rehabilitation, maintenance or prosthesis use, functional outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes at different stages of follow-up. These outcomes were not presented within a common continuous follow-up sequence, and studies addressing later rehabilitation used different definitions, measurement methods, and follow-up periods. Conclusions: The reviewed reports emphasize transfer of a preoperative plan to postoperative anatomy. Whether these technical advantages translate into completed definitive rehabilitation, sustained prosthesis use, functional recovery, or patient-reported benefit remains unresolved. Future studies should report the full rehabilitation trajectory and reasons for treatment modification or nonprogression.