Posttraumatic dental implant placement in a patient with maple syrup urine disease

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an inborn error of metabolism resulting from a defect in the oxidation of the branched-chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine, and valine. Patients present in early infancy with brain edema; delay in diagnosis and treatment is common and associated with residual neurologic damage, which includes alternating muscular hypotonia and hypertonia, dystonia, and seizures. These signs can result in trauma, especially to the anterior maxilla, which is the most traumatized region. In patients with MSUD, a fixed prosthesis is recommended because a removable one can be dangerous because of the risk of aspiration. Rehabilitation, using dental implants, is especially challenging in these patients because of the strong muscular forces of the tongue and lips. An implant-supported fixed prosthesis might provide an effective functional, esthetic, and predictable solution for patients with late-treated MSUD. The present report describes a 10-year follow-up of the successful, posttraumatic use of a dental implant to replace an anterior maxillary tooth in a patient with MSUD.