Ameloblastomas are one of the most common benign tumors that Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons face. The technique used to treat them usually involves a continuity resection in the mandible or the maxilla where the nerve is taken out leaving the patient numb, followed by a reconstruction that requires harvesting autologous bone from the hip or fibula. This process usually has a significant rate of morbidity and length of hospitalization. Today we are joined by Dr. Robert Marx, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon from the University of Miami Millar School of Medicine. He shares with us a revolutionary new method to treat ameloblastomas using stem cell biology and a product called the Marrow Marksman that harvests autologous stem cells to regenerate large quantities of bone. Not only does this process eliminate the need to remove bone from the hip or fibula, but it also preserves the nerve, reduces hospitalization, and produces a much better result. To hear Dr. Marx walk us through three sample cases, tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to ameloblastomas and how they have traditionally been treated.
• How Dr. Marx is using autologous stem cells to regenerate large quantities of bone. 
• The first of three sample cases: The results of a patient that had Ameloblastoma removed, kept the nerve intact, and didn’t need to have bone removed from hip or fibula.
• The second of three sample cases: an ameloblastoma treated extraorally. 
• How recent discoveries have proved that ameloblastomas don’t have the capability to invade a neural sheath and there is, therefore, no reason to take out the nerve. 
• Some of the features and benefits of the Marrow Marksman. 
• How the whole paradigm of treating ameloblastomas has changed. 
• Some of the benefits of this treatment include: less hospitalization, better results, and excellent bone.
• A third sample case. 
• Statistics about the success rate of these surgeries over the past five years.
• Whether or not there is a size of lesion that precludes the use of this technique to treat it.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Robert Marx on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-e-marx/ 

Miller School of Medicine — https://med.miami.edu/

Dr. Grant Stucki Email — [email protected]

Dr. Grant Stucki Phone — 720-441-6059