Factors Involved in Long- and Short-term Mandibular Plate Exposure

Efficacy of small reconstruction plates in vascularized bone graft mandibular reconstruction

“…Our data show that the average time to complications is 6 months for plate fractures and infection/nonunion and 3.4 months for plate exposure. A similar long-term study of mandibular reconstruction procedures was carried out by Nicholson et al 11 These investigators used larger plates, and only a minority underwent reconstruction with vascularized bone. In their series, intraoral plate exposure occurred at a mean postoperative interval of 16 weeks, and extraoral plate exposures occurred at a mean postoperative interval of 40 weeks.…”

Reconstruction of large defects postmandibulectomy for oral cancer using plates and myocutaneous flaps: a long-term follow-up

“…Disadvantages include a mandatory two-team approach, long operation time and possibly great morbidity of the donor site 7,21 . Notwithstanding recent improvements of alloplastic plate materials and techniques of internal fixation 20,16 , a significant number of complications associated with mandibular reconstruction with plates still occur, including screw loosening, plate fracture and, mainly, plate exposure 7 . Mandibular reconstruction with plates may be an option for patients whose clinical condition is not favourable for microsurgical reconstruction 10 .…”

Primary oromandibular reconstruction using free flaps and thorp plates in cancer patients: A 5‐year experience

“…48 In our two patients with intraoral plate exposure, the complication occurred within 7 months of primary surgery, triggered by infections and wound dehiscence in the immediate postoperative period. In the two patients with extraoral plate exposure, the complication was observed at least 7 months after primary surgery and postoperative RT.…”

“…9,11 Of our four patients with plate exposure, the complication occurred after RT in three cases (preoperatively in one case, postoperatively in two cases), so we consider that RT is a significant factor, in agreement with some authors, 11,20,49,50 whereas in disagreement with others. 19,23,48,51 In our patients, the greater RT effects likely resulted from a backscatter effect of the high-molecular-weight titanium in tissues overlying the MRP. 1,52,53 In our experience, surgical defect dimensions and site do not play an important role in plate exposure, because the size of the surgical resections in our four patients was similar to or smaller than that in the other 21 cases.…”