ANALYSIS OF RECONSTRUCTION OF MANDIBULAR DEFECTS USING SINGLE STAINLESS-STEEL A-O RECONSTRUCTION PLATES

Purpose: This report reviews the results and complications of immediat e reconstruction using a single stainless steel A-O plate after resect ion of mandibles invaded by malignant tumors. Patients and Methods: Th irty-four patients were retrospectively evaluated. According to the ex tent of the tumor, hemimandibulectomy or segmental resection were perf ormed in 4 and 30 cases, respectively. Five of 34 cases required a myo cutaneus flap to close soft tissue defects. Results: Nine of the 34 pa tients died during the follow-up period. Complications occurred in 7 o f these patients: plate exposure was caused by local tumor recurrence (4 cases), screw loosening (1 case), and temporomandibular joint pain (2 cases). Twenty-five of the 34 patients (73.5%) were alive, with a m ean follow-up of 47.4 months (range 6 to 115 months). Eighteen of the 25 surviving patients with the single A-O plate reconstruction did not show any complications. Thirteen of these (52%) patients had not unde rgone secondary reconstruction. Five of the 25 patients received secon dary reconstruction for cosmetic or masticatory function reasons. Post operative complications occurred in 7 of the 25 surviving patients (28 %): extraoral plate exposure (2 cases), fracture of the plate (1 case) , mandibular fracture (1 case), screw loosening (3 cases), and screw f racture (1 case). Conclusions: On the basis of the findings, it was co ncluded that a single A-O reconstruction plate can be used for tempora ry, or sometimes even permanent, reconstruction after mandibular resec tion.