A TRIAL OF RECTUS ABDOMINIS MYOCUTANEOUS RECONSTRUCTION AND MAXILLARY PROSTHESIS WEARING FOR EDENTULOUS PATIENTS AFTER TOTAL MAXILLECTOMY

Abstract

We have successfully restored speech, mastication, and deglutition ability by fabricating a solid-type maxillary prosthesis for edentulous patients, after reconstruction of the entire maxilla with a bulky rectus abdominis flap following cancer surgery. This maxillary prosthesis has been worn by 5 of 6 patients, excluding one who died of cancer recurrence.
The flap was inserted into the maxillary defect. It was bent upward, and sutured from the cheek mucosa to the nasal septum, to cover the defect. A nasal fistula remained, to allow a maxillary prosthesis to be retained retention at the developed undercut. The maxillary prosthesis was extended into the nasal fistula, to utilize the undercut. The final functional evaluations were considered satisfactory in terms of stability.