The transmandibular implant: A 5-and 15-year single-center study

Purpose: Fifty-eight patients (average age, 60 years) with gross mandibular atrophy had transmandibular implants inserted between 1984 and 1988. This study reports on their progress at 5 and 15 years. Patients and Methods: In both 1991 and 2000, 50 cases were reviewed, with the other 8 lost to follow-up. Detailed surveys, using exactly the same format, were conducted to determine the outcome of transmandibular implant treatment. The records were reviewed and surviving patients with transmandibular implants were examined. Results: An overall success rate of 80% in 1991 had fallen to 56% by 2000, with a total of 22 implants being removed. Conclusion: Factors involved in failure were age and medical infirmity of the patients, gross mandibular atrophy, and the use of several surgeons, in particular, trainees. This survey shows that the TMI has a progressive long-term failure rate and that extreme care needs to be taken in both patient selection and implant placement. (C) 2002 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.