Mandibular Reconstruction Utilizing the Reamer-Irrigator-Aspirator to Obtain Nonvascularized Femur Grafts

Between July 2021 and February 2024, 6 patients with biopsy-confirmed benign pathologic lesions had mandibular defects reconstructed using a reamer-irrigator-aspirator at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Patients' ages ranged from 34 to 73, 5 of which were males and one female. Primary end points were bony continuity of the mandible, recovery time, and ability of the graft to receive implants. The reamer-irrigator-aspirator obtained 40 to 100 cm³ of uncompressed bone from donor sites. All patients ambulated on the day of surgery or postoperative day one. No neurosensory disturbances were reported at the donor site. Five patients achieved radiographic continuity of the mandible postoperatively. Of the patients with continuity, 4 received implants, and one received a removable prosthesis. The patient without mandibular continuity declined further intervention and received a removable prosthesis. The findings lend support to the possibility of harvesting medullary bone from the femur for mandibular defect reconstruction.