• 3/15/2005
  • Managed Care Law Weekly

A novel method of mandibular reconstruction with frozen autologous mandibular bone has been developed.

With this technique, “vascular supply to the neomandible is ensured by the periosteal layer of a microvascular radial periosteal fasciocutaneous free flap, placed so as to envelop the bone and cover the surgical defect,” surgeons in Italy explained.

“The use of the periosteal layer of the radius to provide new blood vessels to the frozen mandible is an original technical feature,” according to R. Roselli and coauthors at University Hospital Circolo in Varese. They described two cases of “oral carcinoma involving the mandible, treated with mandibular resection and reconstruction.”

“This technique allows good functional and aesthetic results, avoiding more serious complications related to the use of composite free flaps harvested from distant anatomic donor sites,” the researchers concluded.

Roselli and colleagues published their study in the Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology (Mandibular reconstruction with frozen autologous mandibular bone and radial periosteal fasciocutaneous free flap: Preliminary report. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, 2004;113(12):956-960).