Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE:The buccal fat pad (BFP) has been progressively introduced into clinical practice for oral defect reconstruction. This study describes our experience with this technique and compares indications in the literature and outcomes. METHODS:We prospectively enrolled 24 patients presenting oral surgical defects and treated between January 2012 and January 2015 at our institution. They all were eligible for BFP defect reconstruction. A comprehensive literature review was performed from 1977 onwards and surgical indications and results were compared. RESULTS:All 24 BFP procedures showed excellent recovery and uneventful follow-up. Literature review confirmed a global success rate of 96.2% for a reported number of 1,635 patients with multiple surgical indications. BFP showed very low morbidity and failure rates in accordance with the outcomes reported in the literature, and the high patient compliance together with the easy harvesting of this surgical technique make it a good reconstructive option in cases of small-to-medium size oral defects in patients with a high rate of comorbidities or as salvage/second option. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The BFP is worthy of consideration for the reconstruction of selected mouth defects, due to its easy mobilization, excellent blood supply, and minimal donor-site morbidity, where shape and size represent its main limitations, and a defect's location influences its pliability.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Piezosurgery is commonly used in different field of craniomaxillofacial surgery; since its introduction it has become one of the widely adopted technique for performing osteotomies in orthognathic surgery, distraction osteogenesis and dentoalveolar surgery. Little has been written regarding ultrasonic system for temporomandibular joint surgery (TMJ). In this prospective study we describe the use of piezoelectric device for ankylosis of the TMJ. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:We enrolled in this study 19 patients, 10 males and 9 females, mean (SD) age 24.6 (7.6) years, affected by unilateral ankylosis of TMJ who were surgically managed between January 2009 and December 2014 by interpositional arthroplasty with temporomyofascial muscle flap. We adopted in all cases a preauricular approach with temporal extension. The ankylotic block was removed with piezoelectric device in 9 patients and using traditional rotary bur in 10 cases. We investigated and compared the following parameters as surgical outcomes: intraoperative bleeding, duration of operation, incidence of infection, postoperative swelling and hematoma, mouth opening, nerve impairment and rate of recurrence. RESULTS:We noticed a substantial reduction in bleeding with the piezoelectric bone cutter when compared to traditional mechanical surgery (103 ml versus 117 ml; p < 0.05); however, we did not report any severe bleeding from the pterygoid plexus or maxillary artery. Operating time was longer in the piezo group (101 min versus 88 min; p < 0.05). There was a lower incidence of postoperative hematoma and swelling following piezoosteotomy. However, regarding postoperative nerve impairment and infection we did not observe any differences between the two groups. At one year follow-up mean (SD) mouth opening was 34 (4.3) mm. We did not report recurrence of the disease. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Piezoelectric bone removal for the release of ankylosis of the TMJ is associated with minimal bleeding and few postoperative complications. We believe that piezosurgery allows surgeons to achieve better results compared to a traditional surgery. It is a possible alternative due to the clinical benefits demonstrated.

Fractures of the mandibular angle account for 23 to 42% of all facial fractures with a high complication rate (0-32%). Although the ideal treatment remains debatable, two main procedures are commonly used to manage the majority of mandibular angle fractures that are open reduction and internal fixation by a noncompression miniplate placed on the external oblique ridge with or without a second miniplate on the outer cortex. The purpose of this study was to describe our management of mandibular angle fractures by two noncompression miniplates placed on the outer cortex via a transbuccal approach. Medical records and radiographic examination of 389 patients (258 males [66.3%] and 131 females [33.7%]) operated from January 2000 to December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Postoperative complications including malocclusion, infection, wound dehiscence, nonunion, and reoperative surgery were recorded and analyzed. Fifty-three patients developed postoperative complications (overall complication rate: 13.6%). No significant difference was found in the complication rate by age and gender variables and regarding the interval between the trauma and the operation and the presence of the teeth in the line of fracture. A higher rate of complications was found among patients with alcohol/drug addiction and in patients with multiple-site involvement. The findings of this study suggest that the use of two transbuccal miniplates placed on the outer cortex for the internal fixation of mandibular angle fracture provided a low rate of complications. The global incidence of screw loosening, wound dehiscence, plate exposure, infection, reoperation, and plate removal were similar with the data reported in the literature with improved health outcomes, lower postoperative morbidity, and a faster return to normal life.

BACKGROUND: Orbital blowout fractures can be managed by several surgical specialties including plastic and maxillofacial surgery, otolaryngology, and ophthalmology. Recommendations for surgical fracture repair depend on a combination of clinical and imaging studies to evaluate muscle/nerve entrapment and periorbital tissue herniation. METHODS: The aim of this study was to verify the applicability of regional anesthesia when repairing orbital floor fractures. A retrospective chart review was performed for isolated orbital floor fractures treated at the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery in Florence between May 2011 and July 2012. The study included 135 patients who met the inclusion criteria: 96 subjects were male (71%) and 39 were female (29%). The mean age was 45.3 years, ranging from 16 to 77 years. RESULTS: The results revealed that isolated anterior orbital floor fractures can be safely repaired under regional and local anesthesia. Regional and local anesthesia should be combined with intravenous sedation when the fracture involves the posterior floor. The surgical outcome was comparable to the outcome achieved under general anesthesia. There was a lower rate of surgical revisions due to concealed malposition or entrapment of the inferior rectus muscle (19% vs 22%). However, this result was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: THERE ARE SEVERAL ADVANTAGES TO SURGICALLY REPAIRING ISOLATED ORBITAL FLOOR FRACTURES UNDER REGIONAL AND LOCAL ANESTHESIA THAT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: surgeons can check the surgical outcome (enophthalmos and extrinsic ocular muscles function) intraoperatively, thereby reducing the reoperation rate; patient discomfort due to general anesthesia is eliminated; and the hospital stay is reduced, thus decreasing overall healthcare costs.

BACKGROUND: Toxic megacolon (TM) is a potentially lethal complication of idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease or infectious colitis, characterized by total or segmental non-obstructive colonic dilatation of at least 6 cm associated with systemic toxicity. METHODS: Overall, 15 patients had surgery for TM at our institutions over a 10-year period (1993-2003). In contrast to other studies that used medical therapy as the first-line treatment for TM, in our experience all patients underwent surgery as soon as possible after diagnosis of TM (early surgery). RESULTS: 14 patients underwent subtotal colectomy with terminal ileostomy, while for 1 patient the surgical procedure consisted only in a decompressive cecostomy. Two major complications occurred consisting of 2 cases of multiple organ failure leading to death. No other major complications or deaths were reported. The overall mortality rate was therefore 13% (0% in patients <65 years). CONCLUSION: This study shows that early surgery has the potential to represent a valid therapeutic strategy for patients with TM resulting in a small number of TM-related complications and deaths. Elderly patients seem to have a high risk of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and post-surgical death