THE USE OF PERCUTANEOUS IMPLANTS FOR THE PROSTHETIC REHABILITATION OFORBITAL DEFECTS IN IRRADIATED CANCER-PATIENTS - A REPORT OF CLINICAL OUTCOMES AND COMPLICATIONS

This retrospective study evaluated the use of percutaneous craniofacia l implants for the prosthetic rehabilitation of patients with a histor y of orbital exenteration and irradiation for oncologic tumors of the head and neck. A total of 24 implants were placed in six patients. All implants were determined to be osseointegrated at the time of uncover ing. Three implants were subsequently resubmerged beneath the soft tis sue because of positional interferences with prosthesis fabrication. T he remaining 21 implants were ultimately used to retain six orbital pr ostheses. Two implants failed to maintain osseointegration during the follow-up period and were subsequently removed without complications. This represents an overall integration success rate of 90.5% over a me an followup period of 32.8 months (range = 11 to 68 months). The signi ficance of these findings and their relationship to comparable reports in the literature are discussed.