Postoperative radiotherapy after titanium plate mandibular reconstruction for oral cavity cancer

To study the impact of postoperative radiotherapy (RT) on titanium plate mandibular reconstruction. Between 1997 and 2002, 66 patients with oral cavity cancers had immediate titanium plate mandibular reconstruction. Thirty-four patients (51.5%) received postoperative RT and 32 patients were treated with surgery alone. Follow-up ranged from 12 to 58 months (median, 24 months). Sixteen of 66 patients (24.2%) had major complications. Ten of 34 patients (29.4%) who received RT had complications compared with 6 of 32 patients (18.8%) after surgery alone (P = 0.312). The plate was removed in 11 patients (16.7%). The success rate of titanium plate reconstruction was 27 of 34 patients (79.4%) who received RT and 28 of 32 patients (87.5%) after surgery alone (P = 0.378). The addition of postoperative RT did not increase the risk of complications or the likelihood of successful titanium plate reconstruction.