A large maxillofacial prosthesis for total mandibular defect: a case report. (1/56)

We successfully fabricated a large maxillofacial prosthesis for replacement of a total mandibular defect resulting from surgical failure to reconstruct the mandible. Although a number of reports have described procedures for fabricating midfacial prostheses, there is little information on prostheses to compensate for total loss of the mandible. A 54-year-old woman was referred to the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Division of the National Cancer Center Hospital with total loss of the mandible and the surrounding facial soft tissue. The facial prosthesis we used to treat this patient is unique in that it is adequately retained without the use of extraoral implants and conventional adhesives. This prosthesis is retained by the bilateral auricles and the remaining upper front teeth. We present details of the design of this large silicone maxillofacial prosthesis, with which we successfully rehabilitated the patient.  (+info)

Masticator space abnormalities associated with mandibular osteoradionecrosis: MR and CT findings in five patients. (2/56)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Imaging of patients with a clinical diagnosis of mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is often performed to support that clinical suspicion, evaluate the extent of the disease, or exclude coexistent tumor recurrence. The purpose of our study was to describe the clinical, MR imaging, and CT features of five patients with mandibular ORN associated with prominent soft-tissue abnormality in the adjacent masticator muscles. METHODS: The MR and CT examinations of five patients with mandibular ORN associated with soft-tissue abnormalities in the adjacent masticator muscles were reviewed. All patients had received external beam radiotherapy for primary head and neck malignancies, with a total radiation dose range of 60 Gy to 69 Gy in 30 to 38 fractions. RESULTS: CT revealed the typical osseous findings of cortical disruption, trabecular disorganization, and fragmentation in all five patients. Abnormal diffuse enhancement of the adjacent masseter and pterygoid muscles was noted in all patients. Four patients had prominent mass-like thickening of these muscles adjacent to the osseous abnormality. Of the three patients who underwent MR imaging, all showed homogeneous abnormal T1 hypointensity, T2 hyperintensity, and intense enhancement of the bone marrow in the involved mandible. The masticator muscles adjacent to the osseous abnormality also showed abnormal T2 hyperintensity and intense diffuse enhancement on MR images. CONCLUSION: Mandibular ORN can be associated with prominent soft-tissue thickening and enhancement in the adjacent musculature. These changes can appear mass-like and are not related to tumor recurrence or metastatic disease.  (+info)

Possibilities of preventing osteoradionecrosis during complex therapy of tumors of the oral cavity. (3/56)

In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of tumors of the head and neck. Their successful treatment is one of the greatest challenges for physicians dealing with oncotherapy. An organic part of the complex therapy is preoperative or postoperative irradiation. Application of this is accompanied by a lower risk of recurrences, and by a higher proportion of cured patients. Unfortunately, irradiation also has a disadvantage: the development of osteoradionecrosis, a special form of osteomyelitis, in some patients (mainly in those cases where irradiation occurs after bone resection or after partial removal of the periosteum). Once the clinical picture of this irradiation complication has developed, its treatment is very difficult. A significant result or complete freedom from complaints can be attained only rarely. Attention must therefore be focussed primarily on prevention, and the oral surgeon, the oncoradiologist and the patient too can all do much to help prevent the occurrence of osteoradionecrosis. Through coupling of an up-to-date, functional surgical attitude with knowledge relating to modern radiology and radiation physics, the way may be opened to forestall this complication that is so difficult to cure.  (+info)

Osteoradionecrosis of the mandible. (4/56)

Osteoradionecrosis is a major complication of surgery or trauma in previously irradiated bone in the absence of tumor persistence. Radiation-induced vascular insufficiency rather than infection causes bone death. It occurs most commonly in the mandible after head and neck irradiation. Risk factors include the total radiation dose, modality of treatment, fraction size and dose rate, oral hygiene, timing of tooth extractions as well as the continued use of tobacco and alcohol. This condition is often painful, debilitating, and may result in significant bone loss. The recommended treatment guidelines are irrigation, antibiotics, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and surgical techniques, including hemimandibulectomy and graft placements.  (+info)

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and mandibular osteoradionecrosis: a retrospective study and analysis of treatment outcomes. (5/56)

BACKGROUND: Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is recognized as an adjunctive treatment for osteoradionecrosis (ORN). It may also be used prophylactically in patients who require dental extractions and are at high risk for developing ORN. This article reviews the treatment outcomes of patients treated with HBO therapy at the Toronto General Hospital from 1985 to 1997. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 297 charts of patients treated with HBO were reviewed. Criteria assessed included age of patient, gender, original diagnosis, radiation dose, time between radiation treatment and onset of ORN, presence or absence of fracture, orocutaneous fistula, pain, history of a precipitating event triggering ORN, medical status, HBO therapy (total oxygen time, number of dives), method of treatment of ORN and follow-up period. Minimum patient follow-up time for inclusion in the study was 6 months. RESULTS: Adequate information to meet the inclusion criteria was obtained for 75 patients. Group A (51 patients) had been treated for overt ORN with HBO alone, HBO with sequestrectomy, or HBO with sequestrectomy and reconstruction. Group B (24 patients at risk for developing ORN) had been treated with HBO prophylactically for dental extractions. In group A, only 3 patients (5.9%) failed to show improvement. In group B, only one patient (4.2%) had complications during healing. CONCLUSIONS: Encouraging results were achieved when HBO was used in the 2 groups described above. This paper supports existing literature on the potential benefit of HBO as a prophylactic agent and adjunctive treatment of ORN.  (+info)

A survey of antibiotic prescribing by maxillofacial consultants for dental extractions following radiotherapy to the oral cavity. (6/56)

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the antibiotic prescribing trends for exodontia and minor oral surgery in patients with a history of radiotherapy. Also, to evaluate the use of hyperbaric oxygen as a separate modality in the prevention of osteoradionecrosis. DESIGN: A survey of antibiotic prescribing involving the analysis of a questionnaire which included the management of three patients with a history of head and neck malignancy. METHOD: The heads of the departments in each unit in the UK were sent a closed-response questionnaire. Antibiotic prescribing was assessed in three case scenarios. Case one referred to a patient that had surgery alone as part of the management of head and neck cancer, who needed the surgical removal of second molar roots. Case two referred to a patient that had surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy as part of the management of head and neck cancer, and needed the same procedure as in case one. Case three included a patient with a history of surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy, who required the extraction of three mobile and periodontally-involved lower incisors. Consultants were also asked about the use of hyperbaric oxygen in the patients who had radiotherapy as part of their treatment strategy. RESULTS: A total of 109 questionnaires were sent to all the Maxillofacial Units in the UK. The response rate was 73%. In patients with a history of radical surgery alone for the management of head and neck cancer, 20% of the surgeons advocated pre-operative antibiotics for the surgical removal of lower posterior teeth. In contrast, in the patient with a history of adjuvant radiotherapy 86% supported pre-operative antimicrobial use for the surgical removal of the same teeth. In the extraction of mobile and periodontally involved lower incisors in the previously irradiated patient, 63% of the clinicians supported pre-extraction antibiotics. Postoperative antibiotics were advocated in 52% in the first case, 89% in the second case and 71% in the third case. 34% of the clinicians advocated hyperbaric oxygen for surgical removal of posterior teeth and 15% for the extraction of mobile anterior teeth. CONCLUSIONS: The use of peri-extraction antibiotics was favoured among oral and maxillofacial surgeons. There was little enthusiasm towards the use of hyperbaric oxygen as a prophylactic measure, alone or in conjunction with an antimicrobial regime. Control randomised trials that will measure the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen and the appropriate use of antibiotics for prophylaxis in pre- and post-operative regimes are necessary to evaluate the use of these modalities.  (+info)

Therapeutic use of hyperbaric oxygen for irradiated dental implant patients: a systematic review. (7/56)

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy for irradiated patients who require dental implants using data from randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs). The review was prepared according to Cochrane Collaboration guidelines. The Cochrane Oral Health Group Specialist Register and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register were searched (Cochrane Library 2002, Issue 2), together with Medline from 1966 or Embase from 1974. Several journals were hand-searched, and fifty-five implant manufacturers were contacted in an attempt to identify ongoing or unpublished studies. The results were that no RCTs comparing HBO with no HBO for implant treatment in irradiated patients were identified. Our principal conclusions are that clinicians ought to be aware and make patients aware of the lack of reliable clinical evidence for or against the clinical effectiveness of HBO therapy in irradiated patients requiring dental implants. There is a need for RCTs to determine the effectiveness of HBO.  (+info)

Ultrasound stimulation of maxillofacial bone healing. (8/56)

A substantial part of the maxillofacial surgery practice deals with maxillofacial bone healing. In the past decades, low-intensity ultrasound treatment has been shown to reduce the healing time of fresh fractures of the extremities up to 38%, and to heal delayed and non-unions up to 90% and 83%, respectively. Based on the assumption that the process of bone healing in the bones of the extremities and maxillofacial skeleton is essentially the same, the potential of ultrasound to stimulate maxillofacial bone healing was investigated. Although limited evidence is available to support the susceptibility of maxillofacial bone to the ultrasound signal, ultrasound may be of value in the treatment of delayed unions, in callus maturation after distraction, and in the treatment of osteoradionecrosis.  (+info)