Microsurgical reconstruction in mandible osteoradionecrosis: a clinical experience from Portugal

Background Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is one of the most feared complications of head and neck cancer radiotherapy. The most common location for facial ORN is the mandible. Optimal clinical management is still under debate, insofar as a clear definition of its pathological process is yet to be obtained. Osseous surgical debridement is mandatory in advanced stages, but the reconstructive technique has to be specifically tailored to ORN characteristics.