A 3D Analysis of Mandibular Plating Strategies in Oromandibular Reconstruction

Patients will be identified through attendance at the Wharton Head and Neck Clinic at Princess Margaret Hospital or attendance at the Toronto General Hospital Otolaryngology ‐ Head & Neck Surgery clinic as requiring resection of mandibular pathology and subsequent reconstruction with bony free flap. Chart review (electronic) of these patients will be performed to obtain demographic information and factors such as tumor type, site, stage and prior treatment. Data will be obtained from CT scans to create 3D models, including anatomic parameters required for 3D printing of the mandible. Following reconstruction, a number of variables will be collected (i.e. position of the mandibular condyle within the temporomandibular joint, percentage of surface area contact between the plate and bone, type of occlusion/bite and degree of conformance). All of this data will be stored in a password protected Excel spreadsheet located on a secure University Health Network computer. Twenty participants will be enrolled into this study and randomized to one of two groups: intraoperative plate bending (n=10) or preoperative plate bending (n=10) using a 3D printed model. While the participant can be blinded to the strategy that will be pursued, the surgeon performing the reconstruction will not be blinded.