Background

Instrumentation with titanium plates is often required following ablative surgery for oral cancer. These plates are typically used for patients who require instrumentation for the surgical approach (e.g. mandibulotomy) or for reconstruction of mandibular defects. Plate-related complications may occur in up to 0–45% of cases, and may include plate exposure (4–46%), loose screws (0.8–5.8%), or plate fractures (0–3.3%) [1–16]. These complications may result in significant health care burden such as prolonged antibiotic therapy, revision surgery and impact patients’ quality of life.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) following head and neck cancer surgery may occur in as many as 10–45% of cases despite antibiotic prophylaxis [17–24]. SSIs have been defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as infection within the first 30 postoperative days with at least one of several factors, including purulent drainage, positive culture, and either a deliberate incision and drainage or presence of supporting signs and symptoms [25]. The development of SSIs can further lead to serious complications including wound breakdown, mucocutaneous fistulae, sepsis, and death. Delayed wound healing may also result in a poor cosmetic outcome, delayed oral intake and a delay in adjuvant therapies.

Several factors have been previously shown to be associated with the development of plate-related complications including plate related factors (plate material, plate profile, type and size of screws) [2, 4, 5], patient factors (smoking, diabetes, previous radiation, previous hyperbaric oxygen) [8, 9], and surgical defect [7, 10, 15]. We hypothesize that SSIs may result in colonization of the alloplastic plate and result in subsequent plate exposure. The present study aims to understand the relationship between post-operative surgical site infections and plate-related complications.

Methods

Approval from the institutional review ethics board of the University Health Network was obtained. All patients 18 years or older who underwent an oral cavity resection and neck dissection for squamous cell carcinoma, requiring either a mandibulotomy or mandibulectomy with free flap reconstruction and osseous plating performed at the University Health Network in Toronto, Canada between 1997 and 2014 were identified. Eligible patients were identified using a pre-existing oral cavity database based off of the Cancer Registry from Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Electronic medical records were reviewed to confirm candidacy. Patients who were treated with transoral approaches (i.e. no hardware used), or those requiring surgical management of osteoradionecrosis, and those with incomplete documentation of follow-up postoperative care were excluded.

All included patients received antimicrobial prophylaxis with cephalosporins (or clindamycin, if patient was documented with a penicillin allergy), and flagyl starting 30–60 min prior to incision and continuing for at least 24 h after surgery, although practices varied by practitioner. Surgical sites were sterilized prior to initial incision with either povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine.

Clinical information was ascertained from the electronic medical record, and paper charts for the early study period. Patient demographic information and comorbidities, treatment details, pathologic features, and oncologic outcomes were recorded. Postoperative wound infections were defined according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) system for superficial and deep incisional SSI, by criteria for post-operative wound infection following head and neck cancer surgery as described by Grandis et. al; and further included the development of an orocutaneous fistula in the presence of other infectious signs and symptoms (Table 1) [17, 25]. Distant infections such as pneumonia, or urinary tract infections were not captured in our study. Post-operative clinical notes were reviewed, and data pertaining to fevers, white count, differential, cultures, use of antibiotics, procedures including surgical debridement or incision and drainage at the bedside or in the operating room, presence of hematoma or hemorrhage were extracted. Furthermore, plate related characteristics including plate thickness, use of rescue screws, and use of locking screws were recorded. Surgical defects were categorized according to the bony and soft tissue defect. Bony defects were categorized as segmental or non-segmental mandibulectomy defects. Soft tissue defects were considered adverse if the defect involved the external skin, lip, buccal mucosa, mandibular alveolus, or retromolar trigone; sites where soft tissue resection places patients at a higher risk for plate related complications such as plate exposure. Other early post-operative wound related complications such as wound dehiscence, or flap compromise were also collected. Plate related complications (plate exposure, plate fracture) over the course of clinical follow-up were identified from clinical and operative notes. Loose screws were not captured in this study.

Table 1 Criteria for Surgical Site Infection
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Patient demographic, treatment, and pathologic data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Univariable analysis determining the association between wound infection and plate-related complication was performed using cox proportional hazard ratios. Multivariable analyses using cox regression analysis was performed to account for the impact of other variables including plate height, segmental mandibulectomy defects, post-operative infection, and post-operative radiation.

Results

A total of 365 patients meeting our study criteria were identified. The mean age of the study group was 59.2 (+/−13.8), with more males (61.9%) than females (38.1%) (Table 2). A hundred and two patients (27.9%) were actively smoking at the time of diagnosis, 111 (30.4%) had a history of smoking, and some never having smoked (36.7%). Only 10.7% of our patient cohort had diabetes, and another 63.8% had post-operative radiation therapy. Patients were reconstructed with either osseous-cutaneous free flaps (58.0%), or soft-tissue free flaps (39.2%), with one patient reconstructed using a pectoralis major (0.3%). Eighty-four patients (23.0%) developed surgical site infections within 30 days of their operation. The most common SSI formed were neck abscesses (11.5%), and orocutaneous fistulae (10%). Patient were followed for an average of 25.2 months.

Table 2 Demographics and patient characteristics of 365 patients
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There were 39 (10.7%) patients who developed plate exposure post-operatively. There were no plate fractures in our population. Patients who developed post-operative SSI were more likely to develop subsequent plate exposure (25 vs. 6.4%, p <0.001). Univariable analysis performed on potential risk factors using Cox hazard ratio revealed post-operative infection (HR = 5.72, 95% CI = 3.04 – 10.80, p < 0.001), segmental mandibulectomy (HR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.21 – 5.39, p = 0.014), and plate height (HR = 1.43, 95% CI = 1.13 – 1.82, p = 0.003) to be significantly associated with increased rates of plate exposures (Table 3). Patient characteristics such as age, sex, diabetes, post-operative radiation and smoking were not significantly associated. Other plate-related factors including use of rescue screw and locking screw; as well as adverse soft tissue defects were also not significantly associated.

Table 3 Univariate Analysis using Cox-Regression Analysis
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In multivariable analyses (Table 4), plate height, segmental mandibulectomy defects, SSI and post-operative radiation were included. SSI (HR = 5.13, 95% CI = 2.70 – 9.77, p <0.001), segmental mandibulectomy defects (HR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.16 – 5.76, p = 0.020), and plate height (HR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.06 –1.75, p = 0.017) were significantly associated with plate exposures in a Cox regression analysis. Post-operative radiation was not statistically associated with rates of plate exposure.

Table 4 Multivariate Analysis using Cox Regression Survival Analysis
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Table 5 Management of 39 patients with plate exposure
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The overall Kaplan-Meier curves for SSI and rates of plate exposure are displayed in Fig. 1. The 5-year probability of plate exposure free survival is 61.05 vs. 91.75%, (p <0.001) for patients with and without SSIs, respectively, as compared using the log-ranked test.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Kaplan Meier Survival Curve for Post-operative Infection and Proportion of Plate Exposure

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Majority of patients who developed plate exposure were initially reconstructed with bony osseous free flaps (74.4%) (Table 5). The overall mean time to plate exposure was 15.1 months. 59.0% of plate exposures occurred intra-orally, with 38.5% occurring externally, and 2.5% not documented. Plate exposures occurred intra-orally at a median time of 5.7 months compared with external plate exposures, which occurred at a median of 29.8 months. Twelve patients (30.7%) had concurrent bony concerns, with seven (17.9%) demonstrating non-union and five (12.8%) with concurrent bone exposure. No patients developed plate fractures in our study.

Management of these plate exposures included conservative approaches (11 patients, 28.3%), revision operations with plate removal and debridement of sequestra (9 patients, 23.1%), revision operations with plate removal and local flap (6 patients 15.3%), or revision operations with plate removal and free flap (13 patients, 33.3%) (Table 5). Of the patients managed with a free flap, 6 patients received a fibular free flap (46.2%), 4 patients received an anterolateral thigh free flap (30.8%), 2 received a radial forearm free flap (15.4%), and one received an unknown free flap (7.6%). Seven of these patients (17.9%) were re-plated after removal of the exposed plate. During the follow-up of these patients, another 7 patients (17.9%) required multiple procedures.

Discussion

In the present study we showed a strong association between SSIs and plate-related complications. As no patient in our population had plate fractures, we focused on plate exposures. Plate profile as well as segmental mandibular defects reconstructed with osseous free flaps are also associated with plate exposures. The rates of post-operative SSI and plate exposures in the present study are corroborated by previous studies (26.8% compared with 22–46% [19, 24, 26, 27] and 12.3% compared with 4–46% [1–16]). To date, however, our study is the first that demonstrates an association between SSI and plate exposures.

There are several factors that have previously been established that are associated with plate complications. In the present study, we chose a homogenous population of patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma. This patient population is associated with risk factors such as smoking that in and of themselves may predispose patients to impaired healing and subsequent plate complications [28]. Other non-surgical factors such as diabetes has been shown to significantly predict plate complications [9]. In our population, commonly held non-surgical risk factors for plate-related complications including smoking, diabetes, pre-operative or post-operative radiation, and chemotherapy, were not significantly associated with plate-exposures. Despite not being found to be independently significant for plate exposure, the significance of these risk factors cannot be overlooked given the well-established biological processes whereby these factors can impair wound healing [29–31].

Herein we describe a strong association between SSIs and plate exposures. Infections of the head and neck following ablative surgery may lead to bacterial colonization of plates, resulting in biofilm formation, wound contamination and subsequent plate exposure requiring hardware removal to eliminate the nidus of infection [32]. Durand et al. recently reviewed their experience of SSIs following head and neck free reconstructive surgeries reporting 25% of their swabs growing normal oral flora, 44% gram-negative bacilli, 20% methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and 16% methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus [33]. The authors found that in 67% of cultures, at least one pathogen was found to be resistant to prophylactic antibiotics. These infections that are often difficult to treat corroborate our finding that surgical site infections may lead to plate exposure as they are often recalcitrant to antimicrobial therapy.

Other studies focusing on the pathophysiology of plate exposures have previously suggested both plate material and plate profile to be potential predictors [1, 2, 4]. Although multiple studies have found no significant difference between stainless steel and titanium plates in complication rates, when lower profile plates were used, plate exposure rates were found to decrease from 20 to 4% [34, 35]. These studies corroborate our finding that higher profile plates were associated with increased plate exposure in both univariable and multivariable analysis.

Surgical defect size is another potential confounding factor that may be related to plate related complications. We showed that patients with segmental mandibulectomy defects are more likely to develop plate exposures. Although there are several existing classifications schemes for the reconstruction of mandibular defects that further categorize mandibulectomy defects, we chose to dichotomize this variable as the primary outcome was the association of infections with plate exposures [36–39].

Adequate reconstruction after ablative surgery with sufficient soft tissue restoration is critical in avoiding plate exposures. For patients with mandibulectomy defects, reconstruction with vascularized bone is imperative for anterior segmental defects to avoid an “Andy Gump” deformity while for patients with lateral defects some groups propose a soft tissue reconstruction with or without a plate as an alternative to vascularized bony reconstruction depending on overall disease prognosis, age, dentition, and comorbid status [15, 16, 40, 41]. Furthermore, with larger soft tissue defects, osseocutaneous flaps may not have adequate associated soft tissue components, and two free tissue transfers may be required to optimize the reconstruction, adding to both surgical time and complexity [41]. Whichever reconstruction method is chosen, if insufficient bone and soft tissue were used to reconstruct the defect, wound contracture and steady pressure of the plate against the skin may lead to eventual plate exposure [14]. In one study, over-reconstructing medial soft tissue aspects and obliterating dead space resulted in a reduction of plate exposures from 38 to 8% even in patients reconstructed with lateral defects with a plate and soft tissue [41]. The site of mandibulectomy defect was at one point considered an important factor in eventual plate exposure, with mandibulectomy defects involving the central mandible found to have higher rates of plate exposure [7]. With improved microvascular reconstructive techniques, however, the site of the mandibulectomy defect was not found to be a significant predictor of plate exposure [5, 8, 9]. Overall, studies have found lower rates of plate exposure in patients with mandibulotomies (0–15%) [42–45]. In the present study, we showed decreased plate exposure with mandibulotomies compared to those with mandibulectomy defects. This is likely due to the length of the plate in addition to the associated soft tissue defects.

Plate exposures continue to be the most common plate-related complication in mandibular reconstructive surgery [1–16]. Although in some instances managed conservatively, many plate exposures affect patient quality-of-life and plate removal with secondary reconstruction is occasionally necessary [3]. In our study, several patients required plate removal with secondary reconstruction. In addition, some patients develop recurrent plate exposures, suggesting that there may be systemic factors leading to poor wound healing.

Plate exposures can be classified as intra-oral or extra-oral. Nicholsen et al. noted a pattern where extra-oral plate exposure occurred at a mean of ten months post-operatively, while intra-oral plate exposure occurred at a mean of six weeks – three months [7]. This pattern was also seen in our population, with intraoral exposures occurring earlier than external exposures. Given the difference in timing, it is conceivable that the pathophysiology may differ between these two entities. Although there is little evidence to support this, we hypothesize that intraoral exposures are secondary to wound breakdown and salivary contamination whereas external exposure is likely related to longstanding pressure necrosis of the surrounding soft tissues although wound infection is still a contributing factor as we have seen in the present study.

Our study had several limitations. It is limited by a retrospective design albeit the findings of the association between SSI and plate exposure are strongly significant. Furthermore, some definitions used were subjective such as the definition of an adverse soft tissue defect. Furthermore, given the retrospective design, we were unable to study the volume of tissue extirpated and the volume of tissue reconstructive, both of which have implications on the development of plate exposures. Lastly the scope of our study did not capture several important outcome measures such as the impact of plate exposure on mastication, swallowing, speech, and quality of life. Future studies may address some of these issues.

Conclusions

Mandibular reconstruction remains a challenging task for the head and neck reconstructive surgeon. Numerous factors including the defect size, location of the defect, and presence of wound healing compromising conditions must be judiciously reviewed and considered to prevent plate-related complications. SSIs may portend a greater risk towards the development of plate exposure, as does plate height and adverse bony defects. Plate exposure may require multiple procedures to manage and occasionally free flap reconstruction.