Life table analysis and clinical evaluation of oral implants supporting prostheses after resection of malignant tumors

Seventeen mostly elderly patients, 13 men and 4 women, were consecutively a dmitted for implant-prosthodontic treatment after they had undergone resect ion of malignant rumors in the oral cavity. A total of 53 dental implants ( ITI-Straumann) was placed, 12 in the maxilla, 41 in the mandible. The prost hetic rehabilitation consisted of overdenture therapy in 15 patients, and 2 patients were treated with fixed partial prostheses. Thirty-three implants were prescribed for patients who received radiotherapy either before or af ter implant placement. The average dose varied between 50 and 74 Gy. Eighte en implants were located in grafted bone from the fibula, scapula, or hip. For 2 patients, hyperbaric oxygen therapy was also prescribed after osteora dionecrosis had developed. One implant was lost before prosthetic loading. During an observation period of up to 7 years after loading, 3 more implant s were removed. All implant losses occurred in the mandibles of patients wh o had received radiotherapy. A life table analysis was performed, and the c umulative survival rates, calculated for 2, 3, and 5 years, were 93%, 90%, and 90%, respectively. No failures or complications were observed with tech nical components of the implants or prostheses. All prostheses could be mai ntained during the entire observation time. Although in the present investi gation the survival rate of implants was slightly lower than under standard conditions, the treatment with implant-supported prostheses seemed to be a dvantageous for patients who had undergone intraoral resections.