Jaw Reconstruction with Scapular Bone Flap and Prosthetic Implant Rehabilitation: A Comprehensive Systematic Review
Source abstract
Abstract
A rising demand for prosthetic-driven jaw reconstruction is encountered in maxillo-facial surgery. The free scapula flap is a workhorse of cervico-facial reconstructions, but an implant-based prosthetic rehabilitation on this flap is a debated topic. A systematic review of the papers on this subject has been conducted on Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane libraries following PRISMA guidelines, in order to analyze the results described in the literature. A total of nine papers were eligible for inclusion, with 83 scapula flaps overall being used for an implant-based prosthetic rehabilitation. The mandible was the reconstructed jaw in 58.0% of the cases. Overall, 249 implants were positioned (mean 3.0 implant per flap) with a 3.6% implant failure rate. In 95.2% of the cases, delayed rehabilitation was performed. Radiotherapy and the timing of implant placement did not seem to influence implant failure. Only two papers analyzed the quality of life following the rehabilitation, highlighting a functional improvement. Scapula-based implant-prosthetic rehabilitation is a feasible technique that can also benefit from the new CAD/CAM technologies and digital workflows. Nonetheless, further studies focused on this topic and on its impact on the quality of life are needed in order to analyze risk factors and to optimize the outcomes.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Reconstructive Surgery and Microvascular Techniques · Dental Implant Techniques and Outcomes · Reconstructive Facial Surgery Techniques
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
Section of Ear Nose and Throat (ENT), Department of Surgical Sciences, Dentistry, Gynecology and Pediatrics, University of Verona, 37124 Verona, Italy
Unit of Maxillo-Facial Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy
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