A multi-centre, participant-blinded, randomized, 3-year study to compare the efficacy of Virtual Surgical Planning (VSP) to Freehand Surgery (FHS) on bony union and quality of life outcomes for mandibular reconstruction with fibular and scapular free flaps: study protocol for a randomized phase II/III trial

BackgroundAdvanced head and neck malignancies with underlying bony involvement often require aggressive oncological resection of large segments of the oral cavity including the mandible. These patients require vascularized donor osseous free tissue transfer to reconstruct significant defects. Traditionally, the donor bone is harvested on its vascular supply and shaped to the defect in a free hand fashion (FHS). However, virtual surgical …