title: Oromandibular reconstruction using titanium plate and pectoralis major myocutaneous flap.
abstract: To assess whether locking-screw titanium plates (UniLOCK) and pedicled pectoralis major myocutaneous flaps are a valid alternative to complex reconstruction with bony free flaps in poor prognosis or poor performance status oncological patients with mandibular defects, a retrospective evaluation has been made of outcomes in 27 consecutive cases. No patient died perioperatively. Mean operating time was 270 minutes. Post-operative course was uneventful in 14. Mean follow-up was 13 months with no loss to follow-up. Twelve patients are alive and well, 12 died from their malignancy, two from non-neoplastic causes, and one from second cancer. Plate exposure - the main problem with bridging plates - occurred in 6 (22%, 4 early, 2 late), 4 with symphyseal and 2 with postero-lateral defects: removal was necessary in 2; 2 died with the plate exposed, and 2 had successful re-coverage, increasing the final success rate from 78% to 85%. Most patients considered the aesthetic outcome acceptable, however all edentulous patients complained of unsatisfactory dental rehabilitation. From the acceptable success rate, it may be concluded that bridging plates represent a useful reconstruction method, provided they are well covered by viable muscular tissue. They should be offered to patients contraindicated for more invasive procedures or with limited functional needs, or poor prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Galeazzi Orthopedic Institute, Milan, Italy. pietro.salvatori@fastwebnet.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salvatori
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Motto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paradisi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zani
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Podrecca
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Molinari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000637:transplantation*; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014025:Titanium / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D014025:Titanium