Mandibular osteotomies for tumor extirpation: the advantages of rigid fixation

Adequate exposure of intraoral tumors occupying the posterior oral cavity, base of tongue, tonsil, and superior hypopharynx for wide-field primary surgical resection is critical to precise tumor ablation. The exposure resulting from a mandibular osteotomy has greatly assisted the tumor ablation of these areas. This procedure has also been beneficial in providing exposure to the anterior skull base, pterygomaxillary, and infratemporal space, clivus, and nasopharynx. In evaluating various osteotomy sites and methods of fixation, we reviewed 26 patients treated for benign or malignant neoplasia of the head and neck requiring mandibulotomy. The osteotomy complication rate was 2 (29%) of 7 for wire osteosynthesis and 1 (5.3%) of 19 for plate osteosynthesis. All patients with osteotomy complications had received preoperative radiation therapy. The one complication in the plated group was associated with a lateral stairstep osteotomy and two screws on either side of the osteotomy. This study suggests advantages of absolute rigid internal fixation of mandibular osteotomies used for tumor ablation. It is also concluded that a midline osteotomy reapproximated with rigid internal fixation has the benefits of 1. primary bone healing by means of plating counteracting the balanced forces acting on the symphysis; 2. improved reapproximation with minimal bony loss, improving occlusion; 3. decreased incidence of osteoradionecrosis as the symphysis lies outside the usual radiation ports; 4. preservation of the neurovascular bundle; and 5. maintenance of osteotomy-site immobility in an infected field. This review helped identify surgical techniques that decrease the complications that are commonly associated with mandibular osteotomies for precise tumor ablation.