title: Composite mandibulectomy: a novel animal model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Segmental mandibular defects can result after the treatment of various pathologic processes, including osteoradionecrosis, tumor resection, or fracture nonunion with sequestration. The variety of etiologies and the frequency of occurrence make the reconstruction of segmental mandibular defects a topic of significant interest. Despite these incentives, a well-established small-animal model of the segmental mandibulectomy, including composite resection, does not exist. The objective of this study is the creation of a reliable animal model that can be used to study the reconstruction of en bloc mandibular defects. Surgical techniques and an array of reconstructive options are described.
  
  
  METHODS
  Description of an animal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animal laboratory at a quaternary care university medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present an Animal Research Oversight Committee-approved prospective analysis of survival operations in the rat model. A detailed, stepwise description of surgical technique and relevant intraoperative anatomy is presented. Postoperative management, early pitfalls, surgical complications, and future applications are discussed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 72 operations were performed by a single individual between July and October 2010. Two intraoperative and 9 postoperative complications were recognized. There were 6 orocutaneous fistulas, 2 abscesses, and 1 seroma. There were 4 fatalities, which were attributed to anesthetic complications (2, intraoperative), hematoma formation (1, postoperative), and foreign-body aspiration (1, postoperative).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This novel animal model reliably replicates the en bloc segmental mandibular defects seen in our patient population and can be manipulated to achieve a wide variety of research objectives.
authors.affiliation: Division of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095-1624, USA. dsidell@mednet.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Douglas R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Sidell
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aghaloo
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tetradis
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bezouglaia
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: DeConde
authors.forename: Maie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: St John
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008334:Mandible / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D010027:Osteotomy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013165:Splints; D013524:Surgical Flaps