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Clinical Oral Investigations
Published in: Clinical Oral Investigations 5/2022

01-05-2022 | Wound Debridement | Original Article

Risk factors for reconstruction plate exposure after surgery in oral cancer patients. A retrospective cohort study

Authors: Hsuan yu Chen, Li-Han Lin, Chung Ji Liu

Published in: Clinical Oral Investigations | Issue 5/2022

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Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this study was to elaborate risk factors for reconstruction plate exposure after wide excision in oral cancer patients, and to find out the most effective treatment.

Materials and Methods

We include patients who underwent ablative surgery for oral cancer and reconstruction plate fixation from the year 2010 to 2016, separate them into two groups according to whether the hardware was exposed, compare risk factors including age, tumor site, staging, comorbidities, and previous treatment between the two groups. The treatment course and outcome were also recorded.

Results

In total, 75 patients received reconstruction plate fixation after ablative surgery. Bone plate exposure was found in 26 cases (34.6%). The size of the bone defect and the thickness of soft tissue covering the plate were significant risk factors for plate exposure. In 21 patients (72.4%), the bone plate was removed. Conservative treatment was not effective. Removal of bone plate and debridement in one single surgery had a success rate of 81%.

Conclusion

In this study, skin thickness less than 1.5 mm over the reconstruction plate and bone defect size larger than 8.4 cm were the two significant risk factors for bone plate exposure. Although a standardized treatment algorithm is lacking, surgical debridement with removal of the bone plate result in complete soft tissue healing in most patients and should be the treatment of choice.

Clinical relevance

Patients with larger bone defect and thinner covering soft tissue bear more risk for exposure. The most effective treatment is to remove the hardware.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
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Metadata
Title
Risk factors for reconstruction plate exposure after surgery in oral cancer patients. A retrospective cohort study
Authors
Hsuan yu Chen
Li-Han Lin
Chung Ji Liu
Publication date
01-05-2022
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
Clinical Oral Investigations / Issue 5/2022
Print ISSN: 1432-6981
Electronic ISSN: 1436-3771
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00784-022-04382-4

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