I should have posted to this thread earlier as I have a background in implantable devices. But reconstructions that involve metal components, while we think of them commonplace in hips, knees, and the like, are also quite old ideas and common in head injuries and mandibular reconstructions. If you take a look at one of the menu pages that we are building on the OCG site,

http://oralcancerfoundation.org/restoration/index.htm

you can see one of the early designs in use in a very retouched radiograph. Notice that an entire section of the mandible is missing. The design in this image has been greatly improved on in the last five years. The stability of a metal implant based reconstruction is significant, but as posted above there can be issues with survivability in radiated bone. So there are ( as always ) trade offs.


Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.