Mandibulotomy: an analysis of its morbidities

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Mandibulotomy is a surgical approach to enhance access during tumor resection.
• Understanding the complication profile and associated risk factors is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the complications associated with mandibulotomy.
• To analyze factors influencing the risk of developing these complications.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of hospital records from two Malaysian centers.
• Analysis of demographic, clinical, and complication data for patients undergoing mandibulotomy for tumor resection.

Main Results:

• Early postoperative complications occurred in 46.5% of patients; post-radiation therapy complications in 16.1%.
• Common early complications included wound dehiscence (27.9%) and inferior alveolar nerve injury (25.6%).
• Inferior alveolar nerve injury and early abscess formation were linked to mandibulotomy site; T-stage, not site, correlated with tumor margin clearance.

Conclusions:

• Mandibulotomy increases complication risks in tumor surgery patients.
• The study did not demonstrate benefits of mandibulotomy for achieving tumor margin clearance.
• The location of mandibulotomy appears to elevate the risk of inferior alveolar nerve injury.