Implant Supported Dental Rehabilitation Following Segmental Mandibular Reconstruction- Quality of Life Outcomes of a Prospective Randomized Trial

• Published in: Journal of cranio-maxillo-facial surgery Vol. 44; no. 7; pp. 800 - 810
• Main Authors: Kumar, Vinay V., Dr. Dr, Jacob, P.C., Dr, Ebenezer, Supriya, Dr, Kuriakose, Moni A., Dr, Kekatpure, Vikram, Dr, Baliarsing, Amresh S., Dr, Al-Nawas, Bilal, Prof. Dr. Dr, Wagner, Wilfried, Prof. Dr. Dr
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2016
• Subjects: Dental implants; Dental Prosthesis, Implant-Supported - psychology; Dentistry; Female; Fibula - transplantation; Follow-Up Studies; Free fibula flap; Free Tissue Flaps - transplantation; Humans; Male; Mandible reconstruction; Mandibular Reconstruction - psychology; Oral cancer; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Rehabilitation; Surgery; Surveys and Questionnaires; Rehabilitation; Mandible reconstruction; Oral cancer; Dental implants; Free fibula flap; Quality of life
• ISSN: 1010-5182; 1878-4119
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcms.2016.04.013

Summary Purpose The primary objective of this study was to assess the difference in quality of life (QoL) in patients with dental rehabilitation using two or four implant-supported overdentures following segmental mandibulectomy defect reconstruction with fibula free flap. Material and Methods This prospective, parallel designed, randomized clinical study was conducted with a 1:1 ratio. At baseline, all participants already had fibula flap reconstruction for segmental defects of the mandible and rehabilitation with conventional (non−implant supported) removable partial dentures. The participants were then randomized into two groups. Group I received implant supported overdentures on two implants, and Group II received four implants. QoL outcomes were evaluated using standardized questionnaires (EORTC_QLQ c30, H&N35, OHIP, DSI). Outcomes of treatment were evaluated at 6 months (T1) and 1 year (T2) following rehabilitation. Results A total of 52 patients were randomized into two treatment groups (26 each). After accounting for the loss to lack of follow-up, 22 patients in Group I and 24 patients in Group II were evaluated for QoL at the end of the study. There was a significant improvement in QoL with implant-assisted dental rehabilitation. However there were no significant differences in QoL between the two-implant and four-implant groups. Conclusion Implant-supported removable overdentures improve QoL outcomes in patients with reconstructed mandibles. This study showed no significant difference in QoL outcomes in patients with two- or four-implant supported removable prostheses.