Bone contouring and fixation in functional, primary microvascular mandibular reconstruction.

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Microvascular mandibular reconstruction is crucial for restoring function after tumor resection or trauma.
• Standard techniques require refinement to address complex anatomical challenges and ensure optimal patient outcomes.
• Over 65 cases provide a robust dataset for technique development and validation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present reliable techniques for bone fixation and graft contouring in microvascular mandibular reconstruction.
• To discuss management strategies for unusual situations, including buccal cortex tumor extension and condylar replacement.
• To optimize functional results in complex mandibular reconstructions.

Main Methods:

• Detailed description of graft contouring methods.
• Application of rigid internal fixation techniques.
• Case-based presentation and discussion of unusual surgical scenarios.

Main Results:

• Development of reliable techniques for bone fixation and contouring.
• Successful management of cases with buccal cortex tumor extension.
• Effective condylar replacement strategies implemented.

Conclusions:

• Established techniques ensure reliable bone fixation and contouring for microvascular mandibular reconstruction.
• Specific strategies exist for managing complex cases involving tumor extension and condylar defects.
• The described methods achieve superior functional results in challenging reconstructions.