Use of the Kirschner wire for mandibular reconstruction

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Surgical Reconstruction
• Biomaterials in Medicine

Background:

• Mandibular defects often result from ablative surgery for oral cancers.
• Restoring mandibular function and form is crucial for patient quality of life.
• Existing reconstruction methods may have limitations in stability or complication rates.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and evaluate a modified Kirschner wire technique for primary mandibular reconstruction.
• To assess the functional outcomes and complication rates of this adapted Kirschner wire prosthesis.
• To determine the dependability and stability of the modified Kirschner wire in mandibular reconstruction.

Main Methods:

• Adaptation of the Kirschner wire using tie wires for fixation.
• Application in primary mandibular reconstruction following ablative surgery.
• Follow-up evaluation of 18 patients with the Kirschner wire prosthesis.

Main Results:

• Satisfactory mastication and deglutition were achieved in most patients (15/18).
• Only two patients (2/18) required revision surgery due to wire-related complications.
• The modified Kirschner wire served as a dependable and stable prosthesis.

Conclusions:

• The adapted Kirschner wire technique is a viable and effective option for mandibular reconstruction.
• This method offers a stable prosthetic solution with a low complication rate.
• Functional outcomes for mastication and deglutition are generally positive.