Titanium tray mandibular reconstruction.

Abstract

Mandibular reconstructions still present a difficult and challenging problem. Failures experienced in using rib or iliac bone grafts stimulated clinical and research activities in evaluating the following new techniques: composite myocutaneous bone flaps, bone transplants with microvascular anastomoses, and freeze-dried homografts. This article describes the usefulness of the titanium tray with or without cancellous iliac bone grafts for mandibular reconstruction. The series presented herein includes 12 patients who underwent mandibular reconstruction after trauma or ablative cancer surgery, No immediate or delayed extrusion of the titanium tray was observed with follow-up as long as eight years after surgery. Advantages and disadvantages of this technique will be discussed.