Survival rate and cervical bone loss of implants placed in non vascularized iliac graft after segmental mandibulectomy

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the survival rate and the amount of periimplant bone loss in implants placed in free iliac graft following segmental mandible resection.

Over a 5-year period between 2010 and 2015, nine patients with odontogenic tumors who were candidate for segmental mandible resection were enrolled in this study. Resection defect was immediately reconstructed with non-vascularized iliac graft and 4-6 months later 36 implants of 5 different brands were inserted in grafted mandibles. Information regarding implant survival, peri implant bone loss or inflammation for a mean follow up period of 33 months was obtained.

One implant was failed out of 36 implants and the cumulative survival rate of implants was 97.2% in this follow up period. There was no sign of peri implant inflammation or gingival recession or BOP in any patients. The cervical bone loss level varied between 0.6 to 12mm (the length of failed implant) with the average of 0.96 mm. The bone loss level of survived implants varied between 0.6to 1.72mm with average of 0.64mm.

This study demonstrated that reconstruction of segmental mandibular defect with non vascularized iliac graft followed by dental implant placement is an effective and predictable method to restore oral function.