%0 Journal Article
%T Long-term stability of jaw reconstruction with microvascular bone flaps: A prospective longitudinal study.
%A Pu JJ
%A Choi WS
%A Wong MCM
%A Wu S
%A Leung PH
%A Yang WF
%A Su YX
%J Oral Oncol
%V 152
%N 0
%D 2024 May 30
%M 38555752
%F 5.972
%R 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2024.106780
%X OBJECTIVE: Microvascular bone flap jaw reconstruction has achieved satisfactory clinical outcomes. However, little is known about the long-term stability of the reconstructed jaw. This prospective longitudinal study aimed to investigate the long-term stability of jaw reconstruction and factors that were associated with it.
METHODS: Patients with successful computer-assisted osseous free-flap jaw reconstruction in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong were recruited for this prospective longitudinal study. The three-dimensional jaw models at the pre-operative plan, post-operative 1-month, and 2 years were aligned and compared.
RESULTS: A total of 69 patients were recruited, among which 48 patients were available for the long-term analysis. Compared to 1-month after surgery, further deviation from the pre-operative plan was observed at post-operative 2 years. Lack of accuracy in surgery, segmental mandible resection especially with the involvement of mandible angles, and post-operative radiation therapy were identified as the significant factors affecting the positional stability of the reconstructed jaw (p < 0.05). Stable reconstruction was observed in the subgroup analysis of patients without post-operative radiation therapy.
CONCLUSIONS: Up to the best of our knowledge, this is the first prospective longitudinal study reporting the long-term stability of jaw reconstruction and its affecting factors. Our data demonstrated that the reconstructed jaw position lacked stability over the postoperative period. How to improve long-term stability of reconstructed jaw thus optimize the functional outcomes warrants further studies.