Custom-made titanium mandibular reconstruction tray

Abstract

Reconstruction of the mandible after ablative surgery can be achieved by using preformed trays or trays formed from models produced by computer-assisted modelling systems. The former presents difficulty in matching the required facial contour, jaw relationship and condylar position; while the latter is expensive. This paper presents a simple and inexpensive method of fabricating a custom-made titanium bone grafting tray. The dimensions of the patient's mandible are obtained by clinical measurement. Such measurements are used to construct a mandibular replica. The region to be reconstructed is carved to produce the ideal shape and dimensions of an edentulous segment. The tray is made either by casting or by swaging. Twenty-one custom-made titanium bone grafting trays have been fitted in patients with encouraging results. This method of bone grafting tray construction is a simple, inexpensive technique for achieving excellent facial contour and functional reconstruction after mandibulectomy.