Temporomandibular joint, skull base and mandibular ramus functional reconstruction with homologous bank tissue and free flap: a case report with 30 months follow-up.

Abstract

Big craniofacial resections for highly invasive malignant neoplasm, including skull base and maxillary bones, always represent a difficult chance for the reconstructive surgeon. In these cases it is not easy to restore anatomy and function simultaneously even adopting complex microsurgical techniques. In maxillofacial and oral surgery, simple bone homotransplantation for small bone segments reconstruction has been developing as popular technique and tissue banks offer not only bone segments but also many different tissues including complex body parts. In this paper we present, a case report of a homotransplantation of a complete temporomandibular joint (TMJ) together with a portion of the medial skull base and mandibular ramus folded with an ante-brachial fascio-periosteal free flap as secondary reconstruction after nearly 5 years from the removal of a sarcoma of the TMJ involving the skull base and a follow up of more than 30 months.