Pediatric Mandibular Resection and Reconstruction: Long-Term Results with Autogenous Rib Grafts

Craniomaxillofacial Trauma and Reconstruction

Johannes Berten¹  Nils-Claudius Gellrich²  André M. Eckardt²  Enno-Ludwig Barth² 

[1] Department of Orthodontics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany;Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany

关键词: Mandibular reconstruction;    rib graft;    facial growth;    bone graft;    pediatric maxillofacial tumor;   

DOI  :  10.1055/s-0030-1249371

学科分类：口腔科学

来源: Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

【 摘 要 】

Reconstruction of mandibular defects following tumor resection in infants is a particular challenge. Although autogenous rib grafts have no relevance in the restoration of mandibular bone defects occurring after ablative tumor surgery due to limited bone stock and the availability of other donor areas, they are a useful surgical alternative following tumor surgery in infants. We here report on a 2, 5, 8, and 15-year follow-up of four children who were diagnosed with benign tumors of the mandible with osseous destruction at the age of 4, 6, 15, and 18 months, respectively. Histologic diagnoses were melanotic neuroectodermal tumor (n = 2), hemangioendothelioma of the mandible (n = 1), and ameloblastoma (n = 1). Following continuity resection of the mandible, lateromandibular bone defects were restored using autogenous rib grafts. Both clinical and radiologic follow-up visits were performed for all children to assess growth of the facial skeleton and the mandible. One child was already further reconstructed using bone augmentation at the age of 15 years. Cephalometric measurements on panorex films and three-dimensional computed tomographic scans revealed a slight vertical growth excess and transversal growth inhibition of the reconstructed mandible compared with the nonoperated side. Although further growth of rib grafts is difficult to predict and occlusal disharmony may occur due to physiologic maxillary growth and growth of the unaffected mandible, we believe that autogenous rib grafts can be ideally used for the restoration of mandibular continuity defects in newborns and young children. Clinical follow-up visits on a yearly basis and orthodontic controls are useful for early orthodontic treatment of growth deficits. Further corrective surgery with bone augmentation or osseous distraction is required following completion of growth of the facial skeleton.

【 授权许可】

Unknown