Prosthetic rehabilitation of a maxillary defect with a bone anchored prosthesis: A clinical report

Abstract

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic fungal infection that frequently infects sinuses, brain, or lungs and arises mostly in immunocompromised patients. Although its occurrence in the maxilla is rare, debridement and resection of the infected and necrotic area is often the best treatment but usually results in an extensive maxillary defect. Protocols for prosthetic obturation versus microvascular reconstruction have been established and used effectively in tertiary institutions for patients with such large defects. Aramany Class VI defects involving more than half of the palatal surface can be managed effectively by surgical reconstruction using microvascular free flaps as a platform for supporting bone-anchored prostheses. Providing fixed prostheses may offer advantages over a conventional obturator prosthesis in terms of hygiene, function, and esthetics. Nonetheless, fixed prostheses retained by endosseous implants in patients with reconstructive osteomyocutaneous flaps often require a sequential team approach by the surgeon and prosthodontist. This clinical report describes the reconstruction of a maxilla by using a scapular free flap with subsequent prosthetic rehabilitation in a patient with maxillary sinus infection secondary to mucormycosis.