A New Strategy for Patient-Specific Implant-Borne Dental Rehabilitation in Patients With Extended Maxillary Defects

Purpose of the StudyPatients undergoing ablative tumor surgery of the midface are faced with functional and esthetic issues. Various reconstructive strategies, such as implant-borne obturator prostheses or microvascular tissue transfer, are currently available for dental rehabilitation. The present study shows the first follow-up of patients treated with patient-specific implants (IPS Implants® Preprosthetic) for the rehabilitation of extended maxillary defects following ablative surgery.Patients and MethodsAll patients treated with patient specific implants due to postablative maxillary defects were included. 20 implants were placed in the 19 patients (bilateral implants were placed in one of the cases). In 65.75% of the cases, resection was performed due to squamous cell carcinoma. In addition to the primary stability, the clinical implant stability, soft tissue management, successful prosthodontic restoration, and complications were evaluated at a mean follow-up period of 26 months.ResultsAll patient-specific implants showed primary stability and were clinically stable throughout the observation period. Definitive prosthodontic restorations were performed in all patients. No implant loosening was observed. Major complications occurred only in previously irradiated patients with insufficient soft tissue conditions (p = 0.058). Minor complications such as exposure of the underlying framework or mucositis were observed, but they never led to failure of restorations or implant loss.ConclusionsTreatment of postablative maxillary defects with patient-specific implants offers a safe alternative with predictable results for full and rapid dental rehabilitation, avoiding time-consuming augmentation procedures and additional donor-site morbidity.

The use of a “chimeric” autotissue complex from the subscapularis vascular basin for maxillary reconstruction after malignant tumors resection

The objective of this work – to evaluate the results of reconstructive interventions using free revascularized tissue complexes of the scapular region in patients after maxillary resection for malignant tumors. Materials and methods. Between 2014–2020 the post-resection maxillary defects were replaced with free blood-sup plied flaps of the scapular region in 19 patients. In Group 1 (n = 10), the defect was eliminated after total maxillectomy with preservation of the eyeball using a “chimeric” tissue complex, parts of which were positioned in several planes. In Group 2 (n = 9), total and subtotal defects of the hard palate and alveolar process were replaced using a free flap with the inclusion of the scapula angle, which was placed horizontally. The functional and aesthetic results of the reconstructions, the degree of morphological correspondence of the reconstructed structures, as well as the incidence of postoperative complications were assessed. Results. In Group 1 total necrosis of the flap was noted in 2 cases (20 %), in 1 (10 %) case – necrosis of the skin fragment). In Group 2 graft necrosis was observed in 1 (11 %) patient. Satisfactory and excellent aesthetic and functional results were achieved in 6 (60 %) patients in Group 1 and 8 (89 %) patients in Group 2. Conclusion. The scapular flap has a number of advantages for microsurgical reconstruction, including the presence of a long vascular pedicle with large vessels, inclusion of different tissues, possibility of harvesting a “chimeric” version (with significant mobility of parts), low rate of vascular lesions in the area, and most importantly, morphologically close location of bone tissue of the scapula to the maxilla, which ensures successful application of this flap for maxillary repair in patients with advanced cancer of the upper jaw.

Microsurgical reconstruction of maxillary defects after limited resections for malignant tumors

Introduction. Partial maxillectomy involves resection of 1 or 2 walls of the upper jaw, usually medial and anterior ones. The main purposes of reconstruction include the formation of an adequate support for the eyeball; isolation of the orbit from the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, and anterior skull base; normal symmetry; good aesthetic result.Materials and methods. Between 2014 and 2020, we followed up 13 patients. Nine of them (69 %) had combined defects involving the inferior orbital, anterior, and medial walls of the maxilla (class V according to according to the Brown–Shaw classification, 2010), as well as skin on the buccal and zygomatic areas; 1 patient also had lower eyelid affected. Four individuals (31 %) had isolated defects involving the inferior orbital, anterior, and medial walls of the maxilla (class V according to according to the Brown–Shaw classification, 2010). Twelve patients have undergone preoperative 3D-computer simulation. We divided patients into 2 groups according to the size of their defects and resection areas in the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus. Group 1 included 5 patients with partial maxillary defects (involving 25–40 % of the total area), whereas Group 2 comprised 7 patients with limited maxillary defects (involving 25–40 % of the total area).Five patients have undergone reconstructive surgeries with fasciocutaneous flaps, including anterolateral thigh flaps used in 4 individuals (31 %) and thoracodorsal flap used in 1 individual (8 %). Eight patients had their defects repaired using radial fasciocutaneous flaps. The inferior orbital wall was reconstructed using an individual titanium mesh implant.Results. All patients from Group 1 after defect repair with anterolateral thigh flaps and thoracodorsal flaps (4 individuals) had satisfactory aesthetic result. One patient had an unsatisfactory aesthetic result after reconstruction with a radial fasciocutaneous flap due to mesh implant protrusion and formation of an opening in the nasal cavity. The assessment of the eyeball position demonstrated that symmetry was achieved in 4 patients (80 %) after reconstruction using anterolateral thigh flaps (3 patients) and thoracodorsal flap (1 patient). Five patients from Group 2 (72 %) had excellent results, while 2 patients (28 %) had satisfactory results. The assessment of the eyeball position demonstrated that symmetry was achieved in 5 patients (70 %); two participants (28 %) had lower eyelid ectropion.Conclusion. Patients with large maxillary defects (involving 41–60 % of the total area of the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus and the alveolar process of the maxilla) should undergo reconstructive surgeries with fasciocutaneous anterolateral thigh flaps. In case of relatively small defects (involving 25–40 % of the total area of the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus and the alveolar process of the maxilla) the best option is defect repair with radial fasciocutaneous flaps. Such strategy ensures excellent aesthetic and functional results in 75 % of patients.

PROSTHETIC REHABILITATION OF HARD PALATE - A RECONSTRUCTIVE CASE REPORT.

An important objective of prosthetic rehabilitation is to conserve any residual tissue. Patients undergoing resection of maxilla due to accidental casualties or benign or malignant tumor will have inadequacy in maxillary palatal area. Removable prostheses gets support, stability and retention mainly through anatomical structures such as teeth, alveolar bones and palate. When surgical intervention removes much of these structures, remaining tissue becomes too vulnerable to support the necessary prosthesis. Therefore, important considerations to be undertaken to attain extra support, retention and resistance while planning for obturator of maxillary defects. In this case report we have advocated the application of an obturator that closes the defected cavity and also restores the masticatory functions. This obturator is retained by the stainless steel 19 gauge wire encircling the teeth in neighbouring quadrant, undercuts surrounding the defect. The prosthetic obturator was inserted in a 58-year old partially edentulous patient with an extensive maxillary defect. Subjective and objective evaluations indicated that the functional efcacy of obturator dened the quality of life of the patient. The concept of a obturator is a useful solution for the particular situation created by maxillectomy.

Temporalis Muscle Flap for the Immediate Reconstruction of Oral Defects after Oncologic Resection

An oral defect after oncologic resection, especially in the upper jaw, is an extremely complex problem in terms of reconstructive surgery. Herein, we report 2 patients who were diagnosed with oral mucosal squamous cell carcinoma. In one patient, the lesion was present on the right side of the hard palate, invading the maxillary bone. In the other patient, the lesion was present in the left retromolar trigone region. Reconstruction of the postsurgical defects was successfully done using a temporalis muscle flap. Both patients were discharged after ensuring the absence of any postsurgical complications. Furthermore, the postoperative functional and esthetic outcomes were adequate. These case reports highlight the usefulness and reliability of a temporalis muscle flap for the immediate reconstruction of oral and maxillary defects after oncologic resection.

Titanium mesh and pedicled buccal fat pad for the reconstruction of maxillary defect: case report

Background Pedicled buccal fat pad (PBFP) has been used for the reconstruction of small-sized maxillary defects but cannot be used without hard tissue support on the defect larger than 4 cm × 4 cm × 3 cm. Case presentation A 64-year-old man had a history of squamous cell carcinoma of the left maxilla. After removal of the posterior maxilla, a complex bone defect (size, 5 cm × 4 cm × 3 cm) was immediately reconstructed using PBFP combined with a titanium mesh. A pinpoint fistula was found in the left palatal region 1 month after the surgery and was treated with a palatal sliding flap. There were no further complications during the follow-up. Conclusion The present technique demonstrated that PBFP combined with a titanium mesh could be used for the reconstruction of complex maxillary defect (size, 5 cm × 4 cm × 3 cm) without additional bone graft.