Nasal epithesis retained by basal (disk) implants.
OBJECTIVE
To report the case of a patient who underwent facial reconstruction with nasal epithesis anchored on basal (disk) implants after ablation of midface squamous cell carcinoma.


METHODS
Ablative surgery of the midface region and insertion of 3 basal implants into the glabellar area of the frontal bone, the upper part of the right side of the alveolar crest, and the lateral side of the maxillary bone, which forms the left lateral wall of the nose, respectively, was performed. Implants were placed at the time of the primary surgical attempt.


RESULTS
After an unloaded osseointegration phase of 3 months, all implants appeared well integrated according to radiologic criteria and clinical stability. At the end of the osseointegration process, the final epithesis was delivered. Epithesis was anchored to the bars that were fabricated to provide retention and better stability, whereas the implant on the left side was used individually only to improve stability. At the control examinations after 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months, respectively, there were no signs of recurrence of the tumor or any complications related to the implants.


CONCLUSIONS
Disk implants that were applied to our patient present an excellent alternative, particularly in cases with minimal available bone, resulting in reduced complications in elderly oncologic patients.
Konstantinović
Vitomir S
VS
Clinic of Maxillofacial Surgery, daggerSchool of Dentistry, University of Belgrade, Serbia. vskvita@sbb.rs
Lazić
Vojkan M
VM
Stefan
Ihde
I
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000601:surgery*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016348:Osseointegration; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps