Autogenous mandibular bone grafts and osseointegrated implants for reconstruction of the severely atrophied maxilla: a preliminary report

The purpose of this study is to present results obtained with a new procedure for reconstruction of the severely atrophied maxillary alveolar ridge that involves the use of intramembranous corticocancellous bone grafts obtained from the mandibular symphysis fixed to the residual bone by endosseous implants. A total of 107 implants were installed in grafted regions in 26 patients. The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 32 months, with a mean of 16 months. In partially edentulous patients the bone grafts were fixed with implants to the residual bone as 1) onlay graft to the alveolar ridge (8 implants in 4 patients); 2) grafts to the nasal and/or sinus floor after a transoral exposure and elevation of the mucosa of the maxillary sinus and/or the nasal mucosa (33 implants in 11 patients); or 3) a combination of these two (5 implants in 2 patients). In totally edentulous patients, implants and grafts were used as a combination of grafting to both the alveolar ridge and nasal and/or sinus floor sites (61 implants in 9 patients). One hundred of 107 implants showed normal clinical and radiologic healing, whereas 7 implants in 4 patients (6.5%) were lost prior to loading. Seventeen patients have had the implants and bone grafts loaded by a prosthodontic reconstruction from 6 to 26 months (mean, 14 months) without loss of any implants. Postoperative marginal resorption of the onlay bone graft of less than 15% was observed. These findings suggest, that the previously observed rapid resorption of endochondral iliac crest onlay bone grafts and the number of lost implants can be significantly reduced if bone from the mandibular symphysis firmly anchored with titanium implants is used.     

Maxillary sinus reconstruction with calvarium bone grafts and endosseous implants.

PURPOSE: The objectives of this study were 1) to evaluate the survival rate for implants placed in maxillary sinuses augmented with autogenous calvarium bone graft and 2) to evaluate the feasibility, complications, and morbidity of this technique as well as patient satisfaction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-nine maxillary sinuses in 58 patients were reconstructed with calvarium grafts between 1992 and 2002 with more than 1 year of prosthetic loading. Two hundred twenty-three implants were placed 3 to 11 months after grafting. Bone levels were measured preoperatively after grafting and 1 year after prosthetic loading. RESULTS: Successful healing was observed in 77 sinuses (97.4%), and 2 patients (2.6%) showed dehiscence and graft loss. All implants integrated; 211 (94.6%) were used for fixed restorations and 12 implants (5.4%) were used in 2 patients for overdentures (6 implants each). The fixed prosthesis survival rate was 100% after 1 year of loading and remained successful in all cases during the follow-up. At the second stage of surgery, crestal bone loss was measured with a caliper. No crestal bone loss was observed in 210 implants (94%). However, in 13 implants (6%), a crestal bone loss between 1.5 and 2.5 mm was observed, but no further bone loss occurred during the follow-up, as shown on panoramic radiography. Panoramic radiograph measurements showed a total bone height (alveolar bone plus grafted bone) of more than 15 mm in all sinuses and of more than 20 mm in 25 sinuses (32.4%) with a mean of 18 mm. Bone levels were maintained during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Calvarium provides graft material of excellent quality and quantity. 2) Satisfactory results can be obtained with implants placed after sinus augmentation with calvarium bone graft as shown in this study with no implant failure. Bone levels, implants, and bridge survival were maintained during the follow-up.     

Rehabilitation with endosseous implants in fibula free-flap mandibular reconstruction: A case series of up to 10 years

PurposeTo evaluate the clinical outcome and the aesthetic and functional results of implant rehabilitation of fibula free-flap reconstructed mandibles.Materials and methodsThe charts of patients who underwent mandibular reconstruction with fibula free flap and implant prosthodontic rehabilitation between 1998 and 2008 at the Operative Unit of Maxillofacial Surgery of Parma, Italy, were reviewed. In the study the estimated survival rates of implants placed in reconstructed mandibles we identified the prognostic factors and evaluated the functional outcomes.ResultsFourteen patients with a mean age of 50 years (range 15–63 years), were included in the study. A total of 62 implants were positioned. Complications occurred in 7 cases, an improvement in function and aesthetics was reported by the majority of patients.ConclusionsA high survival rate for implants placed in fibula free-flap reconstructed mandibles was observed. Although different factors were believed to be associated with a poorer prognosis (radiotherapy, composite defects, etc.) no statistically significance was found, showing no absolute contraindications to implant placement.     

Total mandibular reconstruction with cancellous cellular bone graft, allogeneic bone crib, and endosseous implants

It is not often that the oral and maxillofacial surgeon is faced with the challenge of restoring a defect that involves the entire mandible. The case presented in this article illustrates the management of such a case. Trauma, infection, neoplasm, and congenital malformations can lead to a discontinuous, deficient, or even absent mandible. In planning the reconstruction of a discontinuity of the mandible, the surgeon may need to manage one or more problems, including loss of adequate denture-bearing bone, loss of speech articulation, loss of control of the tongue and masticatory function, xerostomia as a result of the loss of sublingual and submandibular glands, loss of an intact deglutition mechanism, and a loss of facial form.     

Maxillary and mandibular bone reconstruction with hip grafts and implants using Frialit-2 implants

Many types of osseointegrated implants that are very reliable and supported by scientific medium- and long-term studies are presently available. Often, unfavorable anatomic situations require bone augmentation procedures either prior to or at the same time as implant placement. Some of these procedures present limits. Using versatile implant systems is desirable in cases such as advanced osseointe-. gration, intraoral bone grafts or guided bone regeneration techniques, or major surgical reconstruction with bone grafts from the hip. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the Frialit-2 implant in 29 clinical cases of maxillary and mandibular reconstruction using different bone augmentation techniques, and to consider its success ratio through a 1- to 5-year follow-up.     

Resorption of fibula bone following mandibular reconstruction for osteoradionecrosis

The free fibular flap is commonly used for mandibular reconstruction because of its length, consistent blood supply, and relative ease of harvest. The bone has been shown to maintain mass over time, which confers a potential advantage over other osseous flaps. We know of no published papers on changes in height of fibular bone in patients treated for osteoradionecrosis (ORN). We measured the change in bony height over time as an indirect measure of bone mass. We identified 17 patients (mean age 65, range 49–80 years) who had had reconstruction with a free fibular flap for mandibular ORN. Of them, 10 had fixation with a reconstruction plate, and serial radiographs were available for inclusion in the study. Three measurements were taken on at least 2 rotational tomograms for each patient. Two observers recorded measurements at 25, 50, and 75% of the distance along the bone. Mean change in fibular height (mm) and percentage change were calculated. The interval between radiographs ranged from 5 months 4 days to 20 months 14 days. There was a reduction in fibular height in 8/10 cases, with a mean reduction of 1.5 mm (range 2.6–0.3), or 11%. Our results show a moderate reduction in fibular height, which is comparable with a previously published series of patients without ORN who had reconstruction with miniplates. The stress shielding effects of reconstruction plates were less evident in our patients than in previously published material.     

Rehabilitation of severely atrophied mandible using free iliac crest bone grafts and dental implants: report of two cases

The purpose of this study was to reveal the improvement in facial esthetics and maintenance of mastication in severely atrophied mandibles with inadequate alveolar ridges in 2 patients. Bone graft harvested from iliac crest was used for the reconstruction in the first case, followed by the application of 2 dental implants after 6 months. A free iliac bone graft and 2 dental implants were also used simultaneously with a 1-stage surgery in the second case; the patient had previously had a mandibular reconstruction with a rib graft. Both of the patients achieved remarkably functional and esthetic improvements after treatment. Free iliac bone graft is considered to be a favorable alternative for the maintenance of satisfactory functional and esthetic results in patients with severely atrophied alveolar ridges.     

Clinical evaluation of vascularized bone grafts and osseointegrated implants

We evaluated mandibular rehabilitation using vascularized bone graft and osseointegrated implants. Questionnaires were used to evaluate the masticatory function, and we measured the occlusal force in each patient. In addition, we measured the height of grafted bone to assess the possible relationship between masticatory rehabilitation and the change in bony height. Five of 13 patients showed over 12.0% increase in bony height after superstructure fabrication. Most of the patients who underwent tongue resection scored low points on the questionnaire. Also, most patients with resection, including resection of the angles of the mandible, showed a lower occlusal force than those without.     

Histomorphometric evaluation and clinical assessment of endosseous implants in iliac bone grafts with shortened healing periods

PURPOSE: In the present study solid monocortical hipbone onlay grafts of the maxilla were analyzed histologically after a healing period of 3 months. The clinical success of the implants placed in the grafted bone was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients underwent augmentation with avascular iliac bone. A 2-stage procedure was performed with a 3-month healing period between graft and implant placement. At implant placement bone biopsy samples were taken at the proposed implant sites. RESULTS: Of the 117 implants placed, 1 was not osseointegrated at the time of abutment connection. No implants were lost after loading during an observation period of up to 3 years. Clinical appearance of the augmented bone after 3 months showed a dense cortical layer with good blood perfusion. Histologic specimens were analyzed quantitatively and showed an average of 43.2% newly formed bone. DISCUSSION: Histomorphometry showed that the amount of newly formed bone after 3 months was comparable to that found after a healing period of 4.5 months. The clinical success of the implants placed after the shortened healing period was comparable to that found in nonaugmented bone. CONCLUSION: This study showed that after avascular iliac bone grafting, 3 months of revascularization was sufficient to ensure the secure placement of dental implants in second-stage surgery for this patient population.     

Onlay grafts in combination with endosseous implants in severe mandibular atrophy. A prospective radiological study

The placement of endosseous implants in combination with iliac crest onlay grafting of the anterior mandible is one of the treatment modalities for extreme atrophy of the mandible. The remodelling of these onlay grafts was studied using standardized extraoral oblique lateral cephalometric radiographs (OLCRs). A group of 8 patients was used in this prospective study. The measurements obtained from the OLCRs indicated the existence of the following stages in the process of remodelling of the bone grafts: 1. decrease in thickness and radiographic density of the (upper) cortex of the graft, predominantly during the first half year after grafting; 2. no significant changes in the radiographic density of the upper spongeous part of the graft; 3. a mean decrease of approximately 25% in the overall thickness of the graft, particularly during the first half year; and 4. an increase in the radiographic density of the lower part of the spongeous bone in the second half year after grafting. It is concluded that the remodelling of the graft has a predictable pattern in time. Densitometric measurement using standardized OLCRs can be a useful tool to evaluate quantitative changes of bone grafts to the mandible. The treatment described can be used on very strict indications only.     

Defect-related variations in mandibular reconstruction using fibula grafts. A review of 96 cases

Despite the popularity of the donor region 'laterodorsal calf' with the fibula, the flexor muscles and the overlying skin for microsurgical bone and soft tissue transfer some limitations and possible pitfalls have to be considered. We report on 93 patients who had 96 reconstructions, 65 with and 31 without soft tissue transfer in 8 years using microvascular fibular grafts for mandibular replacement and oromandibular reconstruction. Six patients died within 4 weeks and eight flaps were lost. Necrosis of the skin paddle occurred in 7 (11%) of 61 cases with uncomplicated bony healing.     

The reconstruction of bilateral clefts using endosseous implants after bone grafting.

This article presents the orthodontic reconstruction of an adult bilateral cleft patient with a severe Class III malocclusion in which endosseous implants were inserted after secondary alveolar bone grafting. The patient was a 21-year-old Japanese male whose lateral incisors were congenitally missing and whose premaxilla was inclined lingually. The occlusion was classified as Angle Class III with an overjet of -8 mm. Orthodontic alignment was initiated to correct the position of the maxillary incisors before bone grafting. After the anterior occlusal relationship was corrected, bilateral alveolar clefts were reconstructed by bone grafting with autogenous particulate marrow and cancellous bone harvested from the iliac crest. ITI-SLA fixtures (Institute Straumann, Waldenburg, Switzerland) (length, 10 mm; diameter, 4.1 mm) were placed into the grafted bone for prosthetic restoration of the missing lateral incisors. The results illustrate that this protocol can be expected to provide an acceptable occlusion and good dentoalveolar stability in adult cleft patients.     

Dental restoration with endosseous implants after mandibular reconstruction using a fibula free flap and TMJ prosthesis: a patient report

This patient report describes the secondary reconstruction of a hemimandibular and condylar defect and the dental restoration of a 56-year-old woman who had been subjected to radical ablative surgery 30 years earlier to remove a tumor. In the first phase, a fibula free flap was used in combination with a total TMJ prosthesis for the reconstruction of the hemimandible and condyle. Secondly, 3 endosseous implants were placed in the residual mandible. These implants were used to support an overdenture prosthesis that has remained in continuous function for a period of 2 years.     

Long-term results of jaw reconstruction with microsurgical fibula grafts and dental implants.

PURPOSE: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the long-term utility of the free fibula flap for the reconstruction of the maxilla and mandible and to investigate its suitability for prosthetic rehabilitation with dental implants focusing on implant survival and implant-related morbidity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients who underwent microsurgical reconstruction of the upper or lower jaw after resection from 1992 to 1994 and were available for follow-up examination were included in the investigation. The primary afflictions were malignant tumors, alveolar atrophy, or osteomyelitis. Clinical and radiologic findings were gathered and evaluated with emphasis on the radiologic follow-up as well as clinical investigations disclosing implant-related complications. RESULTS: The fibula proved very suitable for the reconstruction of the upper and lower jaw, allowing rehabilitation with dental implants in all cases. Additionally, the peri-implant bone resorption and the overall complication rate proved to be low. In 93 of 128 implants, probing depths ranged from 2 to 3 mm. In 20 implants, probing depths of 4 to 6 mm were observed. In 4 implants, probing depths of greater than 7 mm were observed. These values corresponded with the radiologically assessed values. CONCLUSION: The reconstruction of the upper and lower jaw with a microsurgically reanastomosed fibula flap, in combination with dental implants, leads to satisfactory functional and esthetic results. The fibula flap seems resistant to peri-implantary resorption processes and is capable of withstanding the masticatory forces that develop during functional loading. In conjunction with the new prosthetic attachments, like the titanium magnetic inserts, the fixation of cover dentures and the oral hygiene is simplified and improved.     

Outcome of partial mandibular reconstruction with fibula grafts and implant-supported prostheses

This study sought to evaluate the outcome of patients treated with fibula grafts for partial mandibular reconstruction and implant-supported prosthesis at a Danish university hospital. Patient inclusion criteria were: partial mandibular resection, reconstruction with a fibula graft, and treatment during the period 1998–2011. Patients with incomplete medical records were excluded. Thirty-six patients were included, of whom 16 were treated with an implant-supported prosthesis. Relevant presurgical, intraoperative, and postoperative parameters were registered. The fibula graft survival rate at the last follow-up (mean follow-up 22 months, range 0–89 months) was 97%. Half of the patients experienced non-severe complications such as loosening of osteosynthesis material, fistulae, and graft exposure. One of 37 fibula grafts in the 36 patients was removed due to infection. The implant survival rate was 96%; three of 67 implants were lost due to infection. Eight implants were not included in the prosthetic rehabilitation. Fibula graft surgery for mandibular reconstruction was found to be a reliable treatment modality with a high survival rate. Rehabilitation with implant-supported prostheses was characterized by high survival rates and few complications. The results obtained are comparable to those of previous studies.     

Oral rehabilitation after mandibular reconstruction using an osteocutaneous fibula free flap with endosseous implants. Factors affecting the functional outcome in patients with oral cancer

BACKGROUND: The development of endosseous implants and free vascularized bone grafting has permitted increased possibilities of oromandibular reconstruction in patients with oral cancer. In this study, a concept combining surgical and prosthodontic treatments for mandibular fibula free flap reconstruction after tumor surgery was made based on a classification of bone defects. A follow-up study was performed to evaluate the treatment concept for oral rehabilitation in order to identify possible factors which may influence the functional result. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A follow-up examination included 28 patients who underwent the ablative tumor surgery and mandibular reconstruction during a 4-year period. The follow-up protocol included clinical examination, radiological evaluation, and an interview using a standardized questionnaire. The timing of the study was set to allow for a minimum 2-year follow-up (mean 45 months). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: At the time of examination, prosthesis-based oral rehabilitation was completed in six patients (21%), and the prosthodontic work was still unfinished in four other patients. The other 18 had no dental prosthetic rehabilitation. Thirteen patients received a total of 37 oral implants, and 23 implants were functionally loaded. No implant loss was recorded. Oral functions such as speech, diet tolerance and oral competence were not directly affected by the presence of dentures. A decisive factor affecting the oral function was the extent of soft-tissue loss. According to the classification described here, the extent of the mandibular defect did not correlate with oral functions. The application of oral implants seemed to be advantageous for the oral rehabilitation of patients who had undergone intraoral resections.     

Vascularized free bone grafts for maxillary and mandibular reconstruction

Vascularized osteocutaneous free grafts have been successfully applied to maxillofacial reconstruction. Careful planning allows for implant prosthesis fabrication in these cases. The scapula, fibula, and ilium are the donor sites that result in the most favorable application of implant prosthetics. Intraoral soft tissues, although compromised, are manageable with meticulous home oral hygiene practices and frequent recall examinations with professional cleaning. Many patients severely impaired by trauma, neoplasm, or congenital deformity can have restoration of form and function with the amalgamation of microsurgical and osteointegration techniques.