A clinical evaluation of implants in irradiated oral cancer patients

Abstracts on this page have been chosen and edited by Dr Trevor Watts

Abstract

Implant survival was affected by radiation dose, bone resection and the jaw in which the implants were placed.

Main

Visch LL, van Waas MAJ et al J Dent Res 2002; 81: 856–859

Implant-supported prostheses have a special role in patients treated with radiotherapy because the latter causes changes which make ordinary prostheses less tolerable. This was a prospective study over a 14 year period in 130 consecutive patients (60% male; mean age 62 yrs) treated for oral cancer. Patients with periodontal problems were excluded. A 2-stage procedure was used to place 446 implants (296 in anterior mandible, 42 posteriorly; 51 in anterior maxilla, 57 posteriorly).

By the end of the study, 50 patients had died. During healing, 27 implants failed, and a further 37 failed under loading. Anterior mandible 10-year implant survival rate was 85%, posterior 83%; respective maxillary rates were 55% and 62%. Radiation dose ≥50 Gy gave significantly lower survival of 71%; for <50 Gy, survival rate was 84%. The authors suggested a lower survival rate with bone resection (61% v. 83%) was because of implant overloading in relatively reduced support.