Guidance
4 Efficacy
4 Efficacy
This section describes efficacy outcomes from the published literature that the Committee considered as part of the evidence about this procedure. For more detailed information on the evidence, see the overview.
4.1 A case series of 14 patients who had undergone reconstruction procedures following removal of head and neck tumours reported that the maxilla, hemimandible and nose were successfully reconstructed without needing to raise flaps for coverage. Attempts to reconstruct the subtotal mandible in 2 patients failed because of lack of soft tissue adherence. Both patients underwent further conventional procedures after the implants were removed.
4.2 In the case series of 14 patients, appearance was described as excellent in 3 patients (details of appearance were not described for the remaining patients). After 2 years of follow-up, all patients remained disease-free and had an acceptable quality of life.
4.3 The specialist advisers listed key efficacy outcomes as reduced operating time, reduced morbidity, long-term implant retention rates, fixation (screw) removal rates and survival rates (for patients with cancer).