Tumors of the facial skeleton in children. Growth patterns after maxillectomy and mandibulectomy.

Thirteen children who had major extirpative surgery of the maxilla or the mandible were followed up an average of five years postoperatively. They ranged in age from three months to eleven years. Facial and oral photographs, cephalograms and cephalometric analysis, and plaster dental models were used to document longitudinal and cross-sectional growth patterns; Our experiences in this limited number of cases has indicated the following: (1) Extensive extirpation of facial bones may be performed in children without significantly jeopardizing function or growth. (2) The roots of healthy teeth may be resected without fear of their noneruption or early loss; loss of sensation with continued viability is the rule. (3) The use of an iliac bone crib with particulate grafts has proved a highly successful means of reconstruction of the mandible in children. (4) Particulate bone has proved to be an effective means of reconstructing large contour defects of the mandible caused by enucleating large tumors in children.