Applications of coronoid process as a bone graft in maxillofacial surgery

The coronoid process can be easily harvested as a donor bone by an intraoral approach during many maxillofacial surgery procedures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of autogenous coronoid process bone grafts for maxillofacial reconstructive surgery. Twelve patients, who underwent coronoid process grafts for reconstruction of maxillofacial deformities due to trauma, alveolar atrophy, or temporomandibular joint ankylosis, were included in the study. There were 3 orbital defects after extended maxillectomy, 1 blowout fracture of the orbit, 2 cases of reconstruction after temporomandibular joint ankylosis surgery, 1 case of additional chin augmentation following horizontal flip genioplasty, 1 defect of anterior wall of maxilla due to trauma, 2 mandibular defects, and 2 cases of bone augmentation for implants.We recommend the use of coronoid process of the mandible as a source for autogenous bone graft as it can provide sufficient bone in quantity and quality for selected maxillofacial reconstructions.