title: Use of porous space maintainers in staged mandibular reconstruction.
abstract: The success of mandibular reconstructions depends not only on restoring the form and function of lost bone but also on the preservation of the overlying soft tissue layer. In this case study, 5 porous polymethylmethacrylate space maintainers fabricated via patient-specific molds were implanted initially to maintain the vitality of the overlying oral mucosa during staged mandibular reconstructions. Three of the 5 patients healed well; the other 2 patients developed dehiscences, likely due to a thin layer of soft tissue overlying the implant. The results presented provide evidence that a larger investigation of space maintainers fabricated using this method is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6500 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Allan M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Henslee
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6500 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Spicer
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6500 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Sarita R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6500 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Alexander M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tatara
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6500 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
authors.forename: F Kurtis
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Kasper
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6500 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA.
authors.forename: Antonios G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Mikos
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, 7500 Cambridge Street, Houston, TX 77054, USA. Electronic address: mark.e.wong@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D063175:Mandibular Reconstruction / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D016062:Porosity; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate
keywords: Implant fabrication; Mandibular reconstruction; Polymethylmethacrylate space maintainer