Combined Use of Endoscopic Techniques and Virtual Surgical Planning for Intraoral Approach for Hemi-mandibular Resection and Reconstruction

Abstract

Background: The study aimed to describe our experience in using endoscopic procedures to aid hemi-mandibular reconstruction with bone flaps through transoral approach. Methods: Five patients with huge benign mandibular tumors underwent transoral mandibulectomy and hemi-mandibular reconstruction, using endoscopy. Facial symmetry, occlusion, bone healing, and mandibular similarity were all evaluated postoperatively. The paired-samples t test was used to compare quantitative data, and a P value less than 0.05 was considered a significant difference. Results: All five patients who received transoral mandibular surgery recovered in terms of TMJ functionality, facial symmetry, and aesthetic results. Endoscopy monitored and ensured that bone flaps were correctly connected and fixed. The accuracy of endoscopy-guided mandibular reconstruction was confirmed by quantitative examination for four cases, which revealed no statistically significant variations between postoperative CT analysis and preoperative virtual surgical planning data. Conclusions: Endoscopy-assisted virtual surgery may resolve concerns with transoral hemi-mandibular reconstruction and broaden indications for mini-invasive mandibular reconstruction. However, only patients with benign mandibular tumors were included in our study, so surgeons should be very cautious if applying this technique to malignant lesions or bony tumors invading soft tissues.