A JUVENILE OSSIFYING FIBROMA IN AN 8-YEAR-OLD BOY: COMPREHENSIVE SURGICAL MANAGEMENT, RECONSTRUCTION, AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Juvenile Osseous Fibroma (JOF) is a rare, benign, yet locally aggressive fibro-osseous lesionprimarily affecting craniofacial bones in children and young adults, with a high recurrencerisk. This report describes an 8-year-old boy with a progressively enlarging, painless facialswelling. Radiological and histopathological examinations identified a trabecular JOF in theleft mandibular ramus, extending to the mandibular angle. Surgical intervention included tumor excision via a combined facial and oral approach,followed by reconstruction using a custom-made patient-specific plate to restore facialsymmetry, support feeding, and accommodate growth.MRI and CT scans are crucial for characterizing jaw tumors before biopsy, aiding in surgicalplanning.  Histopathological analysis confirmed the trabecular variant of JOF. This casehighlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of JOF, underscoring the need for amultidisciplinary approach. Although aggressive surgical management, such asmandibulectomy and reconstruction, is unusual for benign tumors, it is essential fortrabecular JOF to prevent recurrence.