Classification and Treatment of Complications Related to Titanium and Biodegradable Miniplates Using the Lip-Split Transmandibular Approach for Oral and Oropharyngeal Oncological Surgery.

Background: There is a lack of classified definitions and corresponding treatment principles for complications related to titanium miniplate (TMP) and biodegradable miniplate (BMP).

Aims: This study proposes a classification system for complications related to TMP and BMP osteosynthesis and evaluates the effectiveness of the classification system in the treatment of the complications.

Methods: One hundred forty-two patients with advanced-stage oral cavity and oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) underwent oncological surgery via lip-split transmandibular (LTM) approach including midline, paramedian, stair-step, and triangle. 54.9% of patients were treated with TMP, and 45.1% were treated with BMP for osteosynthesis. The classification of complications is divided into grades 0, 1, 2, and 3. Grade 0 is defined as having no complications. The evaluation criteria for treating complications were significant improvement, partial improvement, and no improvement.

Results: All patients underwent en bloc resection of the tumor with histologically negative margins via the LTM approach. The overall success rate of the flap is 98.6%. 25.3%, 48.6%, 14.8%, and 11.3% of patients were treated with midline, paramedian, stair-step, and triangular osteotomy approaches, respectively. A significant increase in the number of paramedian osteotomies was observed compared with other types of osteotomy (P < 0.05). Grades 0, 1, 2, and 3 developed in 54.2%, 12.0%, 14.8%, and 19.0% of patients, respectively. No significant differences in the grade of complications were observed between the TMP group and the BMP group. Sixty-five patients with complications, grades 1, 2, and 3 occurred in 26.2%, 32.3%, and 41.5% of patients. The midline, paramedian, stair-step, and triangle osteotomy approaches were used in 26.1%, 47.7%, and 10.8%, respectively. The incidence of complications in the paramedian osteotomy was significantly higher than that in the other osteotomy (P < 0.05). 83.1% of patients showed significant improvement, 10.8% showed partial improvement, and 6.1% showed no improvement. No significant differences in the treatment outcomes were observed between the TMP group and the BMP group.

Conclusions: The incidence of complications in paramedian osteotomy is also significantly higher than 3 types of osteotomy, and 83.1% of patients showed significant improvement in complications. The complication classification system related to TMP and BMP osteosynthesis are easy to implement and feasible in clinical practice.