Surgical Management of Advanced Mandibular Osteonecrosis Utilizing a Contemporary Mandibular Reconstruction Plate in Patients Unsuitable for Free Flap Reconstruction—Preliminary Study and Case Series

<b>Introduction:</b> Stage three osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), whether medication-related (MRONJ) or osteoradionecrosis (ORN), often necessitates aggressive surgical management due to extensive necrosis, infection, and risk of pathologic fracture. While free flap reconstruction remains the gold standard post-segmental mandibulectomy, it may not be feasible for elderly or systemically compromised patients. <b>Objective:</b> The presentation of our own experience with advanced mandibular ONJ on patients managed exclusively with a contemporary titanium reconstruction plate system and to evaluate the clinical outcomes of this approach in the context of the current literature. <b>Methods:</b> From a group of 21 patients treated for ONJ, just four patients with Stage 3 MRONJ or Grade III ORN, unfit for microvascular surgery, underwent segmental mandibulectomy followed by alloplastic reconstruction using standard titanium plating. Outcomes were assessed clinically and radiographically over a follow-up period ranging from 3 to 20 months. A focused literature review was conducted to contextualize results. <b>Results</b>: All patients demonstrated stable reconstruction without plate exposure, fracture, or intraoral bone exposure during follow-up. Esthetic and functional outcomes are reported. No hardware complications were reported. The review of the literature supports plate-only reconstruction as a valid alternative for patients unsuitable for free flap surgery, especially when using rigid, anatomically adaptive systems with robust soft tissue coverage. <b>Conclusions</b>: Titanium plate-only reconstruction following segmental mandibulectomy can provide reliable short- to mid-term outcomes in selected patients with advanced ONJ. Used titanium plating systems appears to be a promising option.

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Journal
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Published
2026-02-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15051694
Primary Topic
Oral health in cancer treatment
Type
article
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article

Surgical Management of Advanced Mandibular Osteonecrosis Utilizing a Contemporary Mandibular Reconstruction Plate in Patients Unsuitable for Free Flap Reconstruction—Preliminary Study and Case Series

Christos Perisanidis, Kamil Nelke, Marios Fouzas, Evagelos Kalfarentzos
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Oral health in cancer treatment
article

Surgical Management of Advanced Mandibular Osteonecrosis Utilizing a Contemporary Mandibular Reconstruction Plate in Patients Unsuitable for Free Flap Reconstruction—Preliminary Study and Case Series

Christos Perisanidis, Kamil Nelke, Marios Fouzas, Evagelos Kalfarentzos
article en

Abstract

<b>Introduction:</b> Stage three osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), whether medication-related (MRONJ) or osteoradionecrosis (ORN), often necessitates aggressive surgical management due to extensive necrosis, infection, and risk of pathologic fracture. While free flap reconstruction remains the gold standard post-segmental mandibulectomy, it may not be feasible for elderly or systemically compromised patients. <b>Objective:</b> The presentation of our own experience with advanced mandibular ONJ on patients managed exclusively with a contemporary titanium reconstruction plate system and to evaluate the clinical outcomes of this approach in the context of the current literature. <b>Methods:</b> From a group of 21 patients treated for ONJ, just four patients with Stage 3 MRONJ or Grade III ORN, unfit for microvascular surgery, underwent segmental mandibulectomy followed by alloplastic reconstruction using standard titanium plating. Outcomes were assessed clinically and radiographically over a follow-up period ranging from 3 to 20 months. A focused literature review was conducted to contextualize results. <b>Results</b>: All patients demonstrated stable reconstruction without plate exposure, fracture, or intraoral bone exposure during follow-up. Esthetic and functional outcomes are reported. No hardware complications were reported. The review of the literature supports plate-only reconstruction as a valid alternative for patients unsuitable for free flap surgery, especially when using rigid, anatomically adaptive systems with robust soft tissue coverage. <b>Conclusions</b>: Titanium plate-only reconstruction following segmental mandibulectomy can provide reliable short- to mid-term outcomes in selected patients with advanced ONJ. Used titanium plating systems appears to be a promising option.

Journal of Clinical MedicineVol. 15(5)
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (GR), Evangelismos Hospital (GR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 45%
Oral health in cancer treatment
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