PRIMARY MANDIBULAR RECONSTRUCTION WITH BRIDGING PLATES

25 cases in which the mandible was resected and reconstructed using a reconstruction plate (AO titanium reconstruction system and Leibinger titanium reconstruction system) are presented. 16 patients suffered fr om oral carcinoma, 7 presented with odontogenic tumours and 2 had chro nic osteomyelitis of the mandible. The mean age was 54.2 years, the ma le to female ratio was 2.6:1. 3 patients had a reconstruction plate fo r mandibular resection without continuity defect (marginal resection), in all the other patients the reconstruction plate bridged a mandibul ar resection with a continuity defect: 13 were located in the body, bo dy-angle or ascending ramus with preservation of the mandibular condyl e; 4 hemimandibulectomies with disarticulation of the TMJ; and 5 invol ved the anterior arch, crossing the midline. 12 patients received radi otherapy (3 pre-operatively). Only 3 patients with significant local s ide effects needed the treatment to be stopped for a period of time. T here was no perioperative mortality. Only one plate was removed. Altho ugh minor complications were noted in 11 patients, the general improve ment in the functional and cosmetic balance of the patients when compa red with patients in whom no plate was used, justifies the use of this reconstruction system, in our opinion.