Introduction: Defects in the head region may be caused by tumour treatments, injuries, as well as congenital malformations. The restoration of these defects that can be performed through reconstructive plastic surgery and/or prosthetic surgery occupies a high priority in the physical and psychological rehabilitation of the patient. The present study reports on long-term experience in supply of facial prosthesis.
Materials and methods: The medical records of 99 patients, who had been supplied with custom-made facial prostheses between 2001 and 2011, were evaluated retrospectively.
Results: There were 59 male (60%) and 40 (40%) female patients. The reason for prosthetic supplement was a tumour disease in 50 patients, congenital malformation in 39 patients, and trauma in 10 patients. Fifty-three patients were treated with ear prosthesis, twenty-seven patients were treated with eye prosthesis, and nineteen patients with nasal prosthesis. 82.8% of prosthetic supplies were designed as magnetic support prostheses. The most common complication was skin redness around the implants. 10% of patients suffered the loss of the osseointegrated implants.
Conclusion: The osseointegrated titanium implants with magnet support provide a reliable attachment for prosthesis and constitute a promising alternative to surgical reconstruction of complex facial defects.
Keywords: Congenital malformation; Long-term experience; Microtia; Prosthesis; Prosthetic surgery; Trauma; Tumour.