Interim Implant-Supported Resection Prosthesis Following Fibula Free Flap Reconstruction of the Arch with Immediate Implants: A Novel Approach for the Oncologic Patient

Oral cancer treatment involving the maxilla and/or mandible often results in esthetic and functional deficits that can diminish the patient's quality of life. As a result, expeditious reconstruction of the defect and dental rehabilitation is desirable. Dental rehabilitation shortly after reconstruction with an osteocutaneous free flap and resection prosthesis is a persistent challenge for patients with oncologic defects where immediate dental rehabilitation is not a possibility. Additionally, conventional prosthesis fabrication techniques are impractical or impossible due to postoperative anatomical changes and limitations in clinical armamentarium. To address these limitations, a technique and a novel implant-supported prosthetic workflow for the oncologic patient were developed to provide interim dental rehabilitation for such clinical situations. This article describes the prosthesis fabrication technique, reports short-term outcomes, and evaluates patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes using the FACE-Q Head and Neck Cancer Module.