Background: Autogenous bone is the best material in cranioplasty because of biological advantages. Previously, skull, rib, ilium, and fibula have been used in the reconstruction of cranial defects. However, the application of autologous mandibular outer plate in the treatment of skull defect is rarely reported. This study evaluated the application of the autogenous mandibular outer plate in the reconstruction of cranial defect.
Methods: Eleven patients who underwent cranioplasty with mandibular outer plate were recruited. Three-dimensional tomography data were collected to calculate the preoperative, immediate postoperative, and long-term follow-up volume of the bone graft area and donor bone site, and then the absorption rate and the regeneration rate of autogenous bone were analyzed.
Results: The majority of the patients were satisfied with the reconstructive outcome. There are statistical differences in the volumetric measurements of the bone graft area and bone donor site at different time periods (P<0.05). The mean absorptivity of mandibular outer plate implanted in the cranial defect area was (17.30 ± 5.03)% after 3 to 24 months postoperatively, the average regeneration rate of mandibular outer plate volume was (41.65 ± 9.85)% at the same period.
Conclusion: This report shows that the cranioplasty with mandibular outer plate bone graft may be an optional surgical procedure.