title: Use of reconstruction plates in conjunction with soft-tissue free flaps for oromandibular reconstruction.
abstract: The plate-flap option has a place in oromandibular reconstruction: It allows an expedient method to obtain an excellent cosmetic and functional result with minimal donor site disability. It is best for lateral and posterior low-volume defects in the debilitated, the elderly, and in those patients with a poor prognosis. This technique may be used as a preliminary to vascularized bone grafts in patients receiving postoperative radiotherapy. This method is no panacea. These are very specific indications for its use. Failure usually requires rescue with a vascularized bone graft. With proper selection of patients, however, this will rarely be necessary. A major weakness in the plating systems available at present is their tendency to fracture if they remain in place too long. The gauntlet is, therefore, thrown down to those in a position to develop more reliable hardware.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Boyd
mesh_terms: D001860:Bone Plates; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D009055:Mouth / Q000601:surgery*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*