Primary reconstruction of a major loss of lower jaw by an animal bite using a “rib sandwich” pectoralis major island flap

Abstract

A 20 weeks pregnant woman was bitten by a wild bear which took away the central portion of her jaw. A single stage primary reconstruction was performed using a composite pedicled pectoralis major “rib sandwich” island flap. This provided continence of the mouth, allowing her to feed herself within 3 weeks of the operation and to speak reasonably by 6 weeks.