Mandibulectomy and Maxillectomy for Oral Tumors

Partial removal of the lower or upper jaw can pursue local control for selected oral tumors, with explicit discussion of margins, appearance, eating, airway, and aftercare.

Mandibulectomy removes part of the lower jaw and maxillectomy part of the upper jaw. Procedure extent is planned from oral examination, imaging, biopsy, tumor type, regional staging, and reconstructive or feeding needs.

For some localized oral tumors, surgery can remove gross disease and may be the main local treatment. Pathology then informs margins, grade, and whether radiation, systemic therapy, or surveillance should be discussed.

A well-defined procedural goal may be diagnosis, local control, restoration of function, prevention of a predictable complication, or comfort. The likely benefit must be weighed against anesthesia, hospitalization, recovery, anatomy, stage, comorbidities, and the family’s goals.

Discuss before the first incision whenever procedure choice, biopsy tract, margins, reconstruction, specialist equipment, staging, pathology handling, or postoperative support could affect later options. Build pain, nutrition, mobility, wound, and emergency plans before discharge.

Jaw surgery is established for selected canine and feline oral tumors, but outcome and adaptation vary with species, tumor biology, location, resection extent, and adjunctive care. General statements about eating after surgery are not guarantees.

Bleeding, airway issues, pain, wound breakdown, oronasal communication, malocclusion, drooling, cosmetic change, difficulty eating or grooming, infection, and recurrence are possible. Some patients need temporary assisted feeding.

Do not change fasting, prescription medicines, anticoagulants, steroids, NSAIDs, supplements, wound care, activity, or feeding instructions without the procedural team. New bleeding, breathing difficulty, collapse, severe pain, repeated vomiting, wound opening, or loss of function needs prompt assessment.