Rigid reconstruction plates for immediate reconstruction following mandibular resection for malignant tumors

Thirty-four primary alloplastic reconstructions of segmental mandibular defects caused by surgery for oral malignancy were performed during a 6-year period. Eighty-eight percent of the tumors were classified as stage III or IV. One third of the patients died during follow-up, nine with their primary reconstruction plate in place. During the follow-up, 12 patients required plate removal because of complications; four of them were treated with another plate. Nineteen of 21 patients alive at the end of follow-up were free of disease. Ten had their primary plate in place, and four had had a secondary plate installed because of plate fracture or screw loosening. Three patients had their mandible permanently reconstructed with bone. The functional and esthetic results were considered excellent or fair in a majority of the cases. Because the 5-year survival rate for patients with advanced mandibular malignancies is 15% to 20%, extensive, definitive reconstructive procedures during primary surgery are usually not justified.