Mandible Endoprosthesis

Innovative Solution Overview

Large defects of the lower jaw (mandible) can occur following trauma, severe infection, or the surgical removal of oral cancers. These defects can significantly affect a person's ability to eat, speak, and maintain facial appearance, leading to a substantial impact on quality of life. Today, the gold-standard treatment for reconstructing large jaw defects involves transferring bone from the patient's lower leg (fibula free flap) to the jaw. While effective, this procedure is highly complex and requires lengthy surgery, prolonged recovery, and the creation of a second surgical wound. Patients may also experience complications at the donor site, such as pain, reduced mobility, or ankle instability. To overcome these challenges, researchers at NDRIS are developing innovative alternatives that could restore jaw function and appearance without the need to harvest bone from elsewhere in the body.

Through innovations in personalised implants, osseointegrated prostheses, advanced 3D printing, and regenerative biomaterials, NDRIS is working towards a future where patients with major jaw defects can receive faster, less invasive, and more predictable treatment. These technologies aim not only to restore facial appearance and function but also to improve long-term quality of life by reducing surgical burden, enabling earlier rehabilitation, and harnessing the body's own regenerative potential. As these solutions progress through preclinical and clinical development, they could transform the way jaw reconstruction is performed both in Singapore and around the world.