Transient recycling of resected bone to facilitate mandibular reconstruction--a technical note.
BACKGROUND
Mandibular reconstruction requires considerable sculptural skills. The intriguingly complex configuration of the structure is difficult to reproduce. It is thus imperative for surgeons to seek a technique that improves the precision of the reconstruction.


METHODS
A 55-year-old male presented with a full thickness cancer (T4+) of his left cheek. Radical ablative surgery resulted in an extensive loss of bone and soft tissue mandating major reconstruction.


METHODS
The resected bony specimen was thoroughly denuded, autoclaved, and then placed back into its original site so that the mandible resumed its pre-surgical configuration. A reconstruction plate was applied to maintain structural stability, then the "recycled bone" was used as a template and replaced with a free fibular graft.


RESULTS
The patient fared well and a follow-up panoramic radiograph demonstrated good alignment and symmetry of the reconstructed mandible.


CONCLUSIONS
This method is a viable option for segmental mandibulectomy defect repair in selected cases. Using this technique, it is possible to restore the original bony contour expediently and accurately.
Lee
Jing-Wei
JW
Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Cheng-Kung University Medical Centre, Tainan, Taiwan, Republic of China. jwlee@mail.ncku.edu.tw
Tsai
Shin-Sheng
SS
Kuo
Yao-Lung
YL
D001860:Bone Plates; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D002610:Cheek / Q000601:surgery; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D005205:Fascia / Q000637:transplantation; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous