Immediate Transoral Allogeneic Bone Grafting for Large Mandibular Defects. Less Morbidity, More Bone. A Paradigm in Benign Tumor Mandibular Reconstruction?
OBJECTIVE
Reconstruction of hard tissue continuity defects caused by ablative tumor surgery has been traditionally reconstructed with autogenous bone grafts or microvascular free flaps. Although results have been predictable from these 2 methods of reconstruction, the morbidity associated with bone harvest is quite serious for the patient. Predictable results have been obtained with using a combination of 100% cadaver bone, bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), and recombinant human bone morphogenic protein in immediate reconstruction for benign tumor extirpations through the extraoral approach. In light of these successful outcomes, the same combination was evaluated with an intraoral approach. This study evaluated the success of immediate mandibular reconstruction through the intraoral approach without any autogenous bone harvesting.


METHODS
The aim of this retrospective study was to share the authors' experience with the use of 100% allogeneic bone in combination with bone morphogenic protein and BMAC through the transoral approach for immediate reconstruction of continuity defects that resulted from benign tumor surgery. A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients undergoing bone graft reconstruction at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston (UTHealth) Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from December 2014 through January 2016. Inclusion criteria were biopsy-proven benign tumors, American Society of Anesthesiologists I or II health status, and adequate intraoral soft tissue for primary closure determined during initial consultation.


RESULTS
Five patients who underwent this procedure at the UTHealth Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from December 2014 through January 2016 are presented. The success rate was 100%. All patients showed excellent bone quality clinically and radiographically for endosseous dental implant placement. With the transoral approach and no autogenous bone harvesting, the average operating time was 3.4 hours and the hospital stay was 2.4 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Composite allogeneic tissue engineering is an effective and predictable technique for immediate reconstruction of continuity defects from ablative benign tumor surgery. Overall, there was no donor site morbidity, the intraoperative time was shorter, there were fewer admission days, and total costs overall were lower compared with traditional methods.
Assistant Professor, Departments of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Oral, Head, and Neck Oncology, and Microvascular Surgery, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, School of Dentistry, Houston, TX. Electronic address: James.C.Melville@uth.tmc.edu.
James C
JC
Melville
Chief Resident, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, School of Dentistry, Houston, TX.
Nader N
NN
Nassari
Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, School of Dentistry, Houston, TX.
Issa A
IA
Hanna
Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, School of Dentistry, Houston, TX.
Jonathan W
JW
Shum
Professor, Chair, and Program Director, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, School of Dentistry, Houston, TX.
Mark E
ME
Wong
Assistant Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, School of Dentistry, Houston, TX.
Simon
S
Young
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D063175:Mandibular Reconstruction / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome