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Bone defects within the cranio-orbital complex present unique challenges in terms of surgical planning and reconstruction. This article presents a novel approach using PEEK material and advanced surgical technologies to address these challenges. A retrospective analysis of 15 patients who underwent craniofacial reconstruction using patient-specific polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implants between 2016 and 2021 was carried out. Comprehensive preoperative planning was performed, utilizing advanced imaging techniques and specialized software for virtual surgical planning. Patient-specific PEEK PSIs were designed and manufactured based on the preoperative plan. Intraoperative navigation was used to guide the surgical procedure, enabling precise osteotomy and optimal implant placement. This article describes the step-by-step process and the tools utilized in each phase. The etiologies were as follows: meningioma in seven cases, benign lesions in five cases, malignant tumors in two cases, and trauma sequelae in one case. In all cases, 3D-printed PEEK implants were utilized to achieve precise reconstruction. No major complications were described. In one case, an implant replacement was needed with successful outcomes. Our study demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of using PEEK patient-specific implants for personalized craniofacial reconstruction. The combination of advanced imaging, virtual planning, and CAD-CAM technology contributes to improved surgical outcomes in terms of oncologic margin control, functional restoration, and aesthetic results.

Introduction: Treatment of malignant midface tumors is a surgical challenge with an increased difficulty to obtain free surgical margins. The computer assisted surgery (CAS) and intraoperative navigation (ION) can be very helpful in complex midface resections. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate if the ION could improve the rate of free surgical margins in locally advanced midface malignancies., Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed including 40 patients with a locally advanced malignant midface tumor (T4a/b) surgically treated from September 2016 to September 2022. Patients were divided in two groups, a control group included 20 patients operated on without ION and the study group included 20 patients treated with Navigation assisted surgery. A systematic analysis was performed comparing surgical margins in both groups., Results: Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common histological type. Oral cavity was the most common primary location. Overall, considering each specimen as an hexahedrium, 240 surgical margins were analyzed. 15 out of 120 margins analyzed in the navigation group (12.5 %) were positive while 30 out of 120 margins analyzed in control group (25 %) were affected (p 0.013). Concerning margin location, the ION group showed less involvement of the upper surface of specimen than in control group (p 0.048)., Conclusion: Navigation Assisted Surgery seems to improve the rate of free surgical margins in patients with locally advanced midface malignancies, specially concerning involvement of the superior margin. Further studies are recommended to corroborate these results and its potential influence in survival rates., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study is to compare the accuracy of maxilla positioning in orthognathic surgery with the use of custom-made devices (cutting guides and patient-fitted osteosynthesis plates) comparing to CAD/CAM splints. A prospective randomized study was performed. Patients with dentofacial deformities undergoing orthognathic surgery were compared, using customized guides (experimental group) vs. CAD/CAM surgical splints (control group) for the repositioning of the upper maxilla. Preoperative and postoperative CT scans were used to compare positioning and fixation of the maxilla in the three planes of space. A total of 30 patients were included in the study (15 patients in each study group). The mean error obtained with customized guides was 0.8 mm (range 0.1-1.9) in the anterior-posterior axis, 0.4 mm (range 0-1.4) in the vertical axis and 0.2 mm (range 0-1.1) in the horizontal axis. There were statistically significant differences in the anterior-posterior and vertical axes in favour of the customized implants, whereas there were no differences in the horizontal plane. Furthermore, there was a mean reduction of the operative time of 36.5 min in the experimental group. Within the limitations of the study it seems that patient specific surgical guides should be preferred when accuracy of repositioning of the maxilla and saving operative time are the priority., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2022 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the transmandibular approach to the posterior area of the maxilla, oropharyngeal region and the hypopharynx in head and neck surgery. Methods: A series of 42 patients who underwent a lip-split mandibulotomy procedure to access malignant tumours affecting deep areas of the head and neck region between 2008 and 2018 in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Ramón y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid, Spain) were retrospectively reviewed. The diagnosis and operations data of the patients were collected and analysed. Results: Using the transmandibular approach, 42 patients were operated on to access malignant tumours located in the oropharynx (n = 23, 54.76%) including the posterior third of the tongue, tonsil and soft palate, retromolar trygone (n = 9, 21.43%), floor of the mouth (n = 3, 7.14%), skull base (n = 2, 4.76%), superior maxilla (n = 3, 7.14%) and deep lobe of the parotid gland (n = 2, 4.76%). Primary reconstruction was carried out in all cases. The most used flap reconstruction method was the forearm fasciocutaneous flap in 48.71% of cases, followed by the anterolateral thigh flap in 20.51% of cases. The remaining cases were treated with other methods. The most frequent complication was surgical wound infection. Conclusion: The transmandibular approach is a good alternative to provide access for the removal of complex tumours affecting the oropharyngeal region. This approach facilitates direct visualisation of the lesion and bleeding control, allowing tumour resection with wide margins and making primary reconstruction easier. Although further progress in the transoral robotic approach could be a good option in selected cases, given the current state of knowledge, the transmandibular approach is a good option to access tumours affecting deep areas of the oral cavity and oropharynx.

Purpose: Oncologic patients undergoing segmental mandibulectomy with soft tissue resection develop several esthetic and functional sequelae; therefore, the defect must be reconstructed immediately. The iliac crest flap is the only flap that allows reconstruction of the previous dimensions of the mandible. However, the excessive soft tissue of this flap prevents optimal reconstruction of intraoral soft tissue defects., Materials and Methods: This report describes a reconstructive technique used in 12 patients who underwent segmental mandibulectomy because of soft tissue defects resulting from tumor resection. The technique involves reconstruction of the mandible using an iliac crest flap combined with a nasolabial flap to enable subsequent reconstruction of the intraoral soft tissue and immediate placement of osseointegrated implants., Results: The osseointegration success rate was 95.2% with a failure rate of 4.8%. Failure particularly affected the irradiated patients. Excellent functional and aesthetic results were obtained with the iliac crest free flap, nasolabial flap and osseointegrated dental implants., Conclusions: This technique has several advantages. On the one hand, it enables reconstruction of the original dimensions of the mandible, thus allowing immediate placement of implants in an ideal position for subsequent rehabilitation with a dental prosthesis. On the other hand, the nasolabial flap provides a thin layer of tissue that can be used to reconstruct the anatomy of the oromandibular soft tissue., (Copyright © 2014 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The formation of a new joint between a pathologically elongated coronoid process and the body of the malar homolateral bone is known as Jacob's disease. Coronoid process hyperplasia was first described in 1853 by Von Langenbeck, and it was not until 1899 when Oscar Jacob described the disease that it was named after him. Jacobs's disease is an uncommon entity with only a few documented cases in the literature. The condition first manifests with progressive limitation of mouth opening and facial asymmetry. Pain is uncommon and it mainly affects young patients. Different factors have been postulated as possible causes, including temporal muscle hyperactivity, previous trauma, chronic disc displacement of the ipsilateral temporomandibular joint, endocrine stimuli, and genetic alterations. Definitive diagnosis is by histopathology and it is necessary to confirm bone hyperplasia, the presence of cartilage and synovial capsule forming the new joint between the malar bone and the coronoid process. We report a 52-year-old woman patient with a history of childhood trauma in the right preauricular region. She came to our department with a 2-year history of progressive limitation of mouth opening. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a right coronoid process elongation, in contact with the homolateral malar bone, causing it to deform. Surgery with general anesthesia was performed using an intraoral vestibular approach. Histopathology confirmed the diagnoses of Jacob's disease.

We describe the experience of the Maxillofacial Surgery Service of the Gregorio Maranon University Hospital in attending the victims of the terrorist attack of 11 March, 2004 in Madrid. The most important types of cranio-maxillofacial injury treated that day, their mechanisms of production, and the organization of the department to attend a large number of patients in a short space of time are described. The outcomes of the casuistics attended in the days after the attack are described.