title: Lag-screw technique in free osseous mandibular reconstruction.
abstract: The surgical registry was reviewed for mandibular reconstruction from 1988 to 1992. During this time, 51 patients underwent mandibular reconstruction. Of this group, 17 patients had their microvascular bone grafts secured with lag-screw fixation. An AO technique, utilizing 2.7-mm cortical screws, was used to provide rigid fixation. Mandibular defects ranged from 6 to 20 cm. AO vascularized bone grafts were studied with bone scans and remained viable. Follow-up revealed no flap losses or oral cutaneous fistulae. Lag-screw fixation, in conjunction with mandibular reconstruction, results in rigid fixation, obviates the need for mandibulamaxillary fixation, has the advantage of ease of application, and is safe to use.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, Arizona 85259, USA.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Capizzi
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Meland
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001863:Bone Screws; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps