Mandibulotomy in the Irradiated Patient

Anterior mandibulotomy for oral and oropharyngeal tumours

“…Thus radiotherapy did cause increased bone related complications. Davidson et al (1989) found no significant difference in the recurrence rates of radiated and non-irradiated patients. Mal-union and non-union occurred in 11 per cent of irradiated cases and 6 per cent of non-irradiated.…”

Retrospective analysis on prognosis of oral cancer patients according to surgical approaches for effective cancer ablation: swing approach versus visor approach

“…However, Shah et al [ 14 ] stated that pre/postoperative radiation therapy does not affect bone healing. Davidson et al [ 15 , 16 ] also mentioned that preoperative radiation therapy does not influence the occurrence of nonunion or malunion related to mandibulotomy, and mandibulotomy can be used during the swing approach without an increased incidence of radiation-induced osteonecrosis, regardless of radiation therapy.…”

Open Reduction Internal Fixation for Midline Mandibulotomy

“…Similarly, postoperative RT has been associated with complications of bony healing in patients undergoing mandibulotomy in 14% to 37% of cases. 6,7,16,19,20 A small study by Altman and Bailey 21 reported nonunion in 100% of patients who underwent RT to a minimum dose of 60 Gy. While it is unclear in the present study what amount of radiation was received by the mandibulotomy site itself (as opposed to the surrounding soft tissue during preoperative or postoperative RT), it has been reported that there is no difference in complication rates despite varying dosages of radiation received by the osteotomy site during RT for head and neck cancer.…”