Myoplasty in chronic osteomyelitis and other postoperative defects of the lower jaw.

BACKGROUND

Mandibular chronic osteomyelitis is a complicated therapeutical problem in the oral and maxillofacial surgery. While the principles of conservative and radical treatments are generally widely accepted by all authors, the repair of the defects by plastic surgery is inadequately developed.

METHOD: Eleven patients with chronic osteomyelitis, odontogenic cysts and benign tumors of the mandible were treated by filling the osseous defect with a muscle flap from the adjacent m. masseter, m. buccinatorius and m. platysma.

RESULTS

The clinical and X-ray examinations showed that a successful outcome without complications was achieved in all treated patients. There was no recurrence of the underlying disease in the five-year follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of muscle pedicle flaps for plastic reconstruction of osteomyelitic cavities and other osseous defects improves the effect of the treatment, shortens its duration and reduces the possibility of further recurrences of the disease.