The neurocutaneous free fibula flap in mandibular reconstruction.

Despite the delayed application of the free fibula flap to mandibular reconstruction, its recognition as a reliable, sensate skin paddle combined with enough bone to repair any mandibular defect and offer bicortical fixation of osseointegrated implants has proved the free fibula flap to be a "workhorse" in the repair of composite mandibular defects. The low donor site morbidity slightly eases the wait for the molecular reconstructive "cocktails" from the shelf of the next millennium.