Mandibular reconstruction in Goldenhar syndrome using temporalis muscle osteofascial flap

Goldenhar syndrome is a well-known developmental anomaly of the maxillofacial skeleton and hemifacial soft tissue. Maxillofacial anomalies of that syndrome can be managed by a variety of means such as inlay- or onlay-applied nonvascularized bone grafts, vascularized osteocutaneous/osseous flaps, or distraction osteogenesis. Vascularized full-thickness calvarial bone grafting is an important option for mandibular reconstruction for cases in which, for one reason or another, other techniques are not available, not applicable, or have failed. A mandibular defect of a 6-year-old boy presenting with bilateral preauricular skin tags, right microtia, right mandibular hypoplasia (with missing right condylar head and ascending ramus of the mandible) was reconstructed with right vascularized full-thickness calvarial bone grafting. Preoperative three-dimensional computed tomographic scans were used to acquire the stereolithographic biomodeling of the patient for assessing the amount of bone defect and precise planning of the surgery. Panoramic, anteroposterior, and lateral cephalograms and three-dimensional computed tomographic scans were obtained before and after the surgery and in the follow-up period for the evaluation of amount of relapse in the follow-up period. Clinical follow up and bone scintigraphy were used to assess the viability of transferred vascularized calvarial bone graft in the postoperative period. Plain radiographic evaluation with anteroposterior radiographs showed that mandibular symmetry increased and normooclusive closure of incisive teeth was achieved after surgery and retained in the postoperative period. Radiographs taken 1 year after surgery demonstrated that there was a slight relapse (1 mm) to the right side in the mandible when the results were compared with early postoperative ones. Postoperative three-dimensional computed tomographic evaluation of bony structures 3 months after operation showed that the transferred bone retained its volume. Sequential bone scintigraphies, performed to assess the vascularity of the grafts 1 week, 1 month, and 1 year after the operation, demonstrated the viability of transferred vascularized bone graft. The temporalis muscle osteofascial flap is a reliable method for mandibular reconstruction. It lessens the operative time, lessens surgical team labor, minimizes postoperative morbidity and discomfort, minimizes the hospital stay period, and minimizes financial expenses without renouncing the bone-healing capacity and increases aesthetic outcome by camouflaging the donor site scar in scalp and minimizing the facial scarring.