Associate Professor The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Houston, Texas
The history of mandibular reconstruction following ablative surgery is relatively short. Prior to the innovation of free tissue transfer, reconstruction was predominately limited to the use of regional pedicled soft-tissue flaps. Following the advent of rigid fixation, this was advanced by the use of a reconstruction plate with or without the use of a bone graft. These techniques were not only unpredictable, physically debilitating and fraught with complications, but even when successful, they left the patient with a non-functional reconstruction. Contemporary mandibular reconstructive techniques allow the surgeon to perform ablative surgery focusing on oncologic safety and successful tumor margins rather than the size of the defect. These techniques focus on full functional rehabilitation of the patient, including return of facial form, function, sensation and dentition. This course will review a contemporary algorithm for contemporary mandibular reconstruction.
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this presentation, participants should be able to:
Describe the pertinent history of mandibular reconstruction and lessons learned from the past.
Explain the advantages and disadvantages of mandibular reconstructive techniques with particular attention to the use of free flaps and tissue engineering.
Determine a clear and concise algorithm for contemporary mandibular reconstruction.