Fig. 17. The appearance of the case shown in Fig. 16 with the polythene “washer” removed at 2 weeks post-surgery, providing access to the zygomatic oncology implants
Fig. 17. The appearance of the case shown in Fig. 16 with the polythene “washer” removed at 2 weeks post-surgery, providing access to the zygomatic oncology implants
Fig. 16. Another ZIP flap case demonstrating the use of a perforated polythene “washer” to keep the flap from overgrowing the implant abutments during the healing phase
Fig. 16. Another ZIP flap case demonstrating the use of a perforated polythene “washer” to keep the flap from overgrowing the implant abutments during the healing phase
Fig. 15. Facial appearance 18 months following treatment
Fig. 15. Facial appearance 18 months following treatment
Fig. 14. Intra-oral view of perforated flap 3 weeks following radiotherapy
Fig. 14. Intra-oral view of perforated flap 3 weeks following radiotherapy
Fig. 13. Panoramic dental radiograph showing the position of the zygomatic implants and the seating of the initial fixed prosthesis
Fig. 13. Panoramic dental radiograph showing the position of the zygomatic implants and the seating of the initial fixed prosthesis
Fig. 12. Provisional acrylic fixed dental prosthesis fitted at 4 weeks post-surgery
Fig. 12. Provisional acrylic fixed dental prosthesis fitted at 4 weeks post-surgery
Fig. 11. Intra-oral view of the soft tissue flap at 3 weeks post-operatively with overgrowth of flap over the zygomatic oncology implants
Fig. 11. Intra-oral view of the soft tissue flap at 3 weeks post-operatively with overgrowth of flap over the zygomatic oncology implants
Fig. 10. Radial forearm flap inset and sutured into the maxillary defect and perforated by the zygomatic oncology implant abutments
Fig. 10. Radial forearm flap inset and sutured into the maxillary defect and perforated by the zygomatic oncology implant abutments
Fig. 9. Inter-occlusal registration using the pre-fabricated maxillary denture prosthesis relined with silicone putty over the implant abutment protection caps
Fig. 9. Inter-occlusal registration using the pre-fabricated maxillary denture prosthesis relined with silicone putty over the implant abutment protection caps
Fig. 8. Abutment level impression utilising light-cured acrylic tray material
Fig. 8. Abutment level impression utilising light-cured acrylic tray material
Fig. 7. Conventional zygomatic implant insertion on the non-defect side of the maxilla following extraction of the remaining teeth and an alveoloplasty
Fig. 7. Conventional zygomatic implant insertion on the non-defect side of the maxilla following extraction of the remaining teeth and an alveoloplasty
Fig. 6. Zygomatic oncology implants sited in the residual zygomatic bone on the defect side of the maxilla
Fig. 6. Zygomatic oncology implants sited in the residual zygomatic bone on the defect side of the maxilla
Fig. 5. Left-sided maxillary resection (Brown class 2b)
Fig. 5. Left-sided maxillary resection (Brown class 2b)
Fig. 4. Panoramic dental radiograph showing dental status at presentation
Fig. 4. Panoramic dental radiograph showing dental status at presentation
Fig. 3. Staging CT scan confirming maxillary destruction but preservation of the orbital floor
Fig. 3. Staging CT scan confirming maxillary destruction but preservation of the orbital floor
Fig. 2. Staging MRI scan showing destructive lesion left maxilla
Fig. 2. Staging MRI scan showing destructive lesion left maxilla
Fig. 1. Clinical view of left-sided maxillary tumour at presentation
Fig. 1. Clinical view of left-sided maxillary tumour at presentation
Domain
Score
Activity
100 (“I am as active as I have ever been”)
Anxiety
100 (“...
Butterworth, C.J., Rogers, S.N. The zygomatic implant perforated (ZIP) flap: a new technique for combined surgical reconstruction and rapid fixed dental rehabilitation following low-level maxillectomy.
Int J Implant Dent 3, 37 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40729-017-0100-8
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Received: 14 May 2017
Accepted: 23 July 2017
Published: 29 July 2017
DOI: https...
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Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Aintree, Lower Lane, Liverpool, L9 7AL, UK
C. J. Butterworth & S. N. Rogers
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CB devised the treatment concept and undertook all implant surgeries and prostho...
Okay DJ, Genden E, Buchbinder D, Urken M. Prosthodontic guidelines for surgical reconstruction of the maxilla: a classification system of defects. J Prosthet Dent. 2001;86(4):352–63.
Rohner D, Bucher P, Hammer B. Prefabricated fibular flaps for reconstruction of defects of the maxillofacial skeleton: planning, technique, and long-term experience. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants. 2013;28(5):e221...
The ZIP flap technique represents an innovative approach to the management of patients presenting with low-level malignant maxillary tumours. It provides effective closure of the resulting maxillary defect restoring speech and swallowing functions and also establishing a high-quality fixed dental rehabilitation in a rapid timescale, thus facilitating a more timely return to function and restored f...
Whilst technically, it would be possible to construct and fit the prosthesis on the same day or even a week later, the need for microvascular flap monitoring in the immediate post-operative period, together with the significant recovery period required by the patient following surgery has lead the authors to delay the fitting of the prosthesis at the 4 to 6-week period post-operatively. In terms o...
In contrast, the use of a soft tissue flap such as the RFFF or antero-lateral thigh flap can often be safely employed in elderly patients with peripheral vascular disease without unduly lengthening the operation too significantly with two-team operating. In addition, the predictability of these flaps with their excellent pedicle lengths is ideal for closure of the resulting oro-nasal surgical defe...
In low-level maxillectomy (Brown class II), the need for bony reconstruction is questionable depending on the horizontal component. With the preservation of the orbital floor, zygomatic prominence and some bony support for the nose, facial appearance, in the experience of the authors and, as demonstrated by this case, is not significantly worsened despite low-level removal of the maxilla. The key ...
In order to address some of the issues highlighted in this early case, the technique was modified slightly to try and prevent flap overgrowth and prosthesis fracture in the early stages. In order to prevent flap overgrowth over the zygomatic oncology implant abutments, the use of a polythene washer was instituted on subsequent cases treated in the unit. Once the flap was perforated, a 2-mm thick p...
The implant positions were then accurately registered by utilising light-cured resin tray material (Individo® Lux, Voco Gmbh, Germany) and abutment level impression copings. The resin material was applied in sections around the impression copings and cured incrementally to ensure a rigid splinting of the impression copings (Fig. 8). Abutment protection caps were then placed over all four abutment...
A 66-year-old male patient presented with an enlarging mass in the left maxilla (Fig. 1). The mass had been present for a few weeks. An incisional biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma. Staging scans were undertaken (Fig. 2) which demonstrated a T4N0M0 maxillary alveolus tumour in close proximity to the left orbital floor with obliteration of the maxillary antrum and destruction of the lateral m...
The surgical management and prosthodontic rehabilitation of the maxillectomy patient is complex with a variety of options available to the head and neck cancer team ranging from simple prosthodontic obturation [1] to reconstruction using pre-fabricated or digitally planned composite flaps [2] with or without the placement of osseointegrated implants [3]. The primary aims of treatment include effec...
This aim of this report is to describe the development and evolution of a new surgical technique for the immediate surgical reconstruction and rapid post-operative prosthodontic rehabilitation with a fixed dental prosthesis following low-level maxillectomy for malignant disease.
The technique involves the use of a zygomatic oncology implant perforated micro-vascular soft tissue flap (ZIP flap) fo...
Figure 17. The appearance of the case shown in Fig. 16 with the polythene “washer” removed at 2 weeks post-surgery, providing access to the zygomatic oncology implants
Figure 15. Facial appearance 18 months following treatment
Figure 15. Facial appearance 18 months following treatment
Figure 14. Intra-oral view of perforated flap 3 weeks following radiotherapy
Figure 13. Panoramic dental radiograph showing the position of the zygomatic implants and the seating of the initial fixed prosthesis
Figure 12. Provisional acrylic fixed dental prosthesis fitted at 4 weeks post-surgery
Figure 11. Intra-oral view of the soft tissue flap at 3 weeks post-operatively with overgrowth of flap over the zygomatic oncology implants
Figure 10. Radial forearm flap inset and sutured into the maxillary defect and perforated by the zygomatic oncology implant abutments
Figure 10. Radial forearm flap inset and sutured into the maxillary defect and perforated by the zygomatic oncology implant abutments
Figure 9. Inter-occlusal registration using the pre-fabricated maxillary denture prosthesis relined with silicone putty over the implant abutment protection caps
Figure 8. Abutment level impression utilising light-cured acrylic tray material
Figure 7. Conventional zygomatic implant insertion on the non-defect side of the maxilla following extraction of the remaining teeth and an alveoloplasty
Figure 6. Zygomatic oncology implants sited in the residual zygomatic bone on the defect side of the maxilla
Figure 5. Left-sided maxillary resection (Brown class 2b)
Figure 4. Panoramic dental radiograph showing dental status at presentation
Figure 3. Staging CT scan confirming maxillary destruction but preservation of the orbital floor
Figure 2. Staging MRI scan showing destructive lesion left maxilla
Figure 1. Clinical view of left-sided maxillary tumour at presentation
Table 1 Patient-reported quality of life outcomes following ZIP flap procedure
From: The zygomatic implant perforated (ZIP) flap: a new technique for combined surgical reconstruction and rapid fixed dental rehabilitation following low-level maxillectomy
Domain
Score
Activity
100 (“I am as active as I have ever been”)
Anxiety
100 (“I am not anxious about ...
References
Okay DJ, Genden E, Buchbinder D, Urken M. Prosthodontic guidelines for surgical reconstruction of the maxilla: a classification system of defects. J Prosthet Dent. 2001;86(4):352–63.
Rohner D, Bucher P, Hammer B. Prefabricated fibular flaps for reconstruction of defects of the maxillofacial skeleton: planning, technique, and long-term experience. Int J Oral Maxillofac Impl...
Conclusions
The ZIP flap technique represents an innovative approach to the management of patients presenting with low-level malignant maxillary tumours. It provides effective closure of the resulting maxillary defect restoring speech and swallowing functions and also establishing a high-quality fixed dental rehabilitation in a rapid timescale, thus facilitating a more timely return to function...
Immediate/early loading of zygomatic [8] and dental implants [9] have been well demonstrated already within the literature with very high implant survival rates. In the oncology setting, Boyes-Varley et al. [4] lost no zygomatic/oncology implants in their series of 20 patients restored with implant-retained obturators, 6 of whom received radiotherapy post-operatively. The case reported...
The use of soft tissue flaps to close a typical hemi-maxillectomy defect is an effective way of dealing with the oro-nasal communication, but in isolation, this technique works against dental rehabilitation as the bulk of the flap provides a very poor moveable foundation for a subsequent removable prosthesis. The move towards the use of composite reconstruction (especially the fibula flap) h...
Discussion
In order to reduce intra-operative time, the soft tissue free flap is harvested at the same time as the implant placement and prosthodontic procedures. On raising a skin island, it is appropriate to make it a little over-sized for the required defect to ensure that tension and possible dehiscence at the surgical margins during healing is reduced.
In low-level maxillectomy (Brown...
Procedural modifications to the ZIP flap technique
In order to address some of the issues highlighted in this early case, the technique was modified slightly to try and prevent flap overgrowth and prosthesis fracture in the early stages. In order to prevent flap overgrowth over the zygomatic oncology implant abutments, the use of a polythene washer was instituted on subsequent cases treated in th...
The radial forearm free flap (RFFF) was then disconnected from the arm and inset into the maxillary defect after creating a tunnel down into the left neck for the pedicle. The flap was carefully perforated over the zygomatic implant abutment protection caps using a short incision just through the skin layer followed by blunt dissection to allow the abutment and cap to perforate the flap ensuring a...
The ZIP flap technique
The patient underwent tracheostomy, a limited left-sided selective neck dissection for node sampling and vessels preparation. The maxillary tumour was excised in a standard manner via an intra-oral approach with preservation of the left orbital floor (Fig. 5). The resection extended to the maxillary alveolar midline in the incisor region with extension posteriorly just into...
Case presentation
A 66-year-old male patient presented with an enlarging mass in the left maxilla (Fig. 1). The mass had been present for a few weeks. An incisional biopsy revealed squamous cell carcinoma. Staging scans were undertaken (Fig. 2) which demonstrated a T4N0M0 maxillary alveolus tumour in close proximity to the left orbital floor with obliteration of the maxillary antrum and destruc...
Background
The surgical management and prosthodontic rehabilitation of the maxillectomy patient is complex with a variety of options available to the head and neck cancer team ranging from simple prosthodontic obturation [1] to reconstruction using pre-fabricated or digitally planned composite flaps [2] with or without the placement of osseointegrated implants [3]. The primary aims of treatment...
The zygomatic implant perforated (ZIP) flap: a new technique for combined surgical reconstruction and rapid fixed dental rehabilitation following low-level maxillectomy
Abstract
This aim of this report is to describe the development and evolution of a new surgical technique for the immediate surgical reconstruction and rapid post-operative prosthodontic rehabilitation with a fixed dental prost...