CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF MANDIBULAR RECONSTRUCTION USING AO RECONSTRUCTION PLATES

Forty-one cases (37 patients) of mandibular reconstruction using AO plates were reviewed. The patients' ages ranged from 27 to 83 years (mean, 52.3 ± 18.1 years) and their cases were followed for 6 to 42 months (mean, 12.7 ± 8.3 months). Cases were grouped by the location of reconstruction: anterior mandible crossing midline as group A (12 cases), body segment of the mandible as group B (16 cases), condyle and ramus of the mandible as group C (13 cases). The incidence of revision as a measure of outcome was calculated by actuarial methods accounting for loss to follow-up or death. Revision or plate removal occurred in 22.2% (9 of 41 cases), with an incidence of 52.2% (6 of 12 cases) in group A, 12.5% (2 of 16 cases) in group B, and 7.7% (1 of 13 cases) in group C. Combined use of an AO plate and bone graft had a revision rate of 33.3% (4 of 12 cases), whereas the reconstructions with only a plate had a revision rate of 17.2% (5 of 29 cases). The difference between the immediate reconstructions (19.2%; 5 of 26 cases) and delayed reconstructions (26.7%; 4 of 15 cases) was not significant, but delayed reconstruction of the anterior mandible resulted in the highest failure rate (57.1%; 4 of 7 cases). The revision incidence was significantly higher when the area had been radiated (33.3% of 24 radiated cases and 5.7% of nonradiated cases required revision). In particular, the radiated group A had a remarkably higher failure rate (63.2% of 10 cases). Mouth opening greater than 30 mm was obtained in 92.3% of group C, 68.8% of group B, but only 52.2% of group A. Joint pain, which was mild and tolerable, was noted in 3 of 13 group C patients. © 1992.