Rehabilitation by means of osseointegrated implants in oral cancer patients with about four to six years follow‐up

Abstract

This paper describes the reconstruction of mandibular defects in four oral cancer patients using iliac crest bone grafts and osseointegrated implants. In three patients, reconstructive surgery using a reconstruction plate and free forearm skin flap was performed following tumour and segmental mandibular resection. After 7-9 months, mandibular reconstruction with a free iliac bone graft was carried out. In one patient, reconstructive surgery was performed with vascularized iliac bone grafting with an anterolateral thigh flap at the same time as the tumour resection. Fixtures were placed in the transplanted bone, and abutments were connected 6-9 months later together with vestibuloplasty. Gingival grafts were used to replace the skin flap around abutments. All implants survived throughout the approximately 4-6 years observation time. Marginal bone loss of the graft was originally several millimetres but less than 1.5 mm. Bone loss as well as management of peri-implant soft tissue was also discussed.