Browsing by Author "Fernandes, Raquel Cardoso"
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Considerations for the use of alloplastic temporomandibular joint replacement in head and neck reconstruction: a review and case report presentationPublication . Fernandes, Raquel Cardoso; Ângelo, David Serrano Faustino; Almeida, Anabela Antunes deOral cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world. When the complaints initiate, most of these cancers are already in an advanced-stage disease. Multiple modalities are often required in the treatment of oral cancer, including surgical approaches and radiotherapy. One of the most well-known consequences of radiotherapy is osteoradionecrosis. Osteoradionecrosis is when irradiated bone becomes exposed and necrotic through a wound and persists for a minimum of three months. This condition produces late effects on the tissue blood supply, which creates a difficult and inappropriate environment for reconstruction of remaining bone and soft tissue deformities. Several studies have recommended fibula free flaps as the first reconstruction option for these head and neck patients with major mandibular defects and suffering from osteoradionecrosis. Nonetheless, uncertainty emerges when fibula free flaps fail, and salvage procedures do not achieve their purpose. In this present work is discussed the feasibility of alloplastic temporomandibular joint replacement in head and neck patients when submitted to pre- or post-radiotherapy. The effects of radiotherapy in both cases are associated with a higher risk of postoperative infection and exposure, meanwhile there are some successful cases with alloplastic prostheses, even when radiotherapy is used in these patients’ treatment. Additionally, a case report of a head and neck patient is presented. This patient was submitted to several attempts of mandibular reconstruction after mandibular resection and radiotherapy. When all the efforts have failed, an alloplastic temporomandibular joint replacement was proposed. This present work intends to review reconstruction techniques in radiotherapy treatment situations and offer a new approach through a case report presentation.