[Long-term experiences with marsupialization of large mandibular cysts into the oral vestibulum]

After a few remarks on the indication for marsupialisation and the choice of therapy, the treatment of large mandibular cysts as practised in the Zurich Clinic is described. 53 cases were all marsupialized into the oral vestibulum. Postoperative healing was without complications in 49 cases, while 3 cases showed delayed healing and in one case, an undislocated fracture occurred from trauma. Postoperative treatment with a vaselinated iodoform gauze lasted between 3 and 5 weeks. Postoperative discomfort was described as mild by the patients. Bone regeneration was good, as shown by late controls of 48 surgically treated cysts: 42% did not show any dip in the bone, in 54% a slight dip, unnoticeable by the patient remained and only in 4% cases the recess disturbed as a food trap. These encouraging results have established marsupialisation as a most useful method, preferable to cystectomy because of the absence of complications and of the necessity of bone transplantation. The method should be limited however to the horizontal ramus. Extensive cysts of the ascending ramus are operated by another method.