AN ALGORITHM FOR MAXILLECTOMY DEFECT RECONSTRUCTION

A maxillectomy defect creates a communication from oral cavity to nasa l cavity that may extend to the orbit, Functional deglutition and spee ch problems with a significant soft tissue deficit ensue. This paper d efines the reconstruction options for the spectrum of inferior partial maxillectomy defects to midface-orbital exonerations. Treatment proto cols from maxillectomy patients treated in January 1991 to February 19 96 at a major tertiary care institution were reviewed (n = 108). An as cension of care from dental obturator, nonvascularized graft, local fl ap, regional flap, and free tissue grafts (n = 28) is described. These data and experience were organized to provide a treatment algorithm t o assist in presurgical planning for maxillectomy reconstruction.