5-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF MANDIBULAR RECONSTRUCTION WITH HYDROXYLAPATITE AND THE MANDIBULAR STAPLE BONE PLATE

Purpose: To evaluate the results of hydroxylapatite augmentation of the mandible followed by placement of the mandibular staple. Patients and Methods: Sixty patients 5 or more years postsurgery were evaluated. Patients were followed yearly with clinical and radiographic examinations. Results: The decrease in augmentation height was 2.8 mm (33%) after the first year and only minimal in the following years, The following problems were seen hyperplastic tissue around posts (eight patients), small dehiscences were seen in the saddle area after 2 years (11 patients), large dehiscences with significant hydroxylapatite loss in five patients. One patient needed a secondary augmentation. Conclusion: Prosthetic stabilization and function were excellent throughout the study period and there was a uniformly high degree of patient satisfaction.