| Abstract: |
The mandible is a U-shaped bony structure with posterior vertical extensions that establishes the height, width, and projection of the lower face. The bone of the mandible abuts multiple soft-tissue structures that are equally essential to both function and form: anteriorly, the chin, lips, and oral commissures; laterally, the external cheek and intraoral lining; posteriorly, the pharyngeal pillars; and medially, the floor of the mouth and tongue. Resection of cancers that occur in this region can create not just bony defects but also loss of the surrounding soft-tissue components. Thus, a classification system for mandibular defects must also address the soft-tissue defects. This chapter describes the Cordeiro classification system consisting of 13 primary types of defects; the algorithms to approach reconstruction of these defects can vary in different surgeons’ hands, but, generally, the reconstructive options need to address the specific defect. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019. |
