Faculty Bibliography

Crouzon syndrome patients develop normal intracranial volume and potential restricted posterior cranial fossa volume with growth. This study aims to trace the segmental anterior, middle and posterior cranial fossae volume, and structural morphology in these patients, in order to help discern more focused and individualized surgical treatment plan. Ninety-two preoperative CT scans (Crouzon, n = 36; control, n = 56) were included, and divided into 5 age related subgroups. CT scans were measured using Mimics and 3-matics software. Overall, Crouzon syndrome patients grew to a 27% (p = 0.011) increased anterior cranial fossa volume and a 20% (p = 0.001) decreased posterior cranial fossa volume, with normal middle cranial fossa and entire intracranial volume measurement. The posterior cranial fossa of Crouzon syndrome initially developed significantly reduced volume (19%, p = 0.032), compared to normals, from 6 months of age, and remained reduced thereafter. The 7.63 mm shortening of posterior cranial fossa length contributed most to the shortened entire cranial length (9.30 mm, p = 0.046). Although the entire cranial volume of Crouzon syndrome is normal overall, the segmental anterior, middle and posterior cranial fossae developed disproportionately. The early significant and lifelong restricted posterior cranial fossa addresses the importance of early posterior cranial expansion. Ideally expansion would have vectors in all three dimensions.

Purpose: Currently, indications and algorithms for oral and dental clearance prior to transplant and cardiac surgeries can be cryptic for referring surgical teams. Care coordination and timing is often suboptimal. Our group has subsequently devised an algorithm for patients to receive oral health clearance prior to relevant surgical and medical therapies, streamlining the process for the patient, referring transplant team, and dental/OMFS team.
Background(s): In a multitude of health circumstances, patients are asked to receive pre-treatment oral health clearance. Related literature on efficacy and appropriate delivery is often sparse and/or inconclusive. Patients planned for cardiac surgery, solid organ transplant, bone marrow transplant, radiation therapy, and immunologic drugs are often asked to procure dental evaluation and "clearance" prior to treatment. Arguably, the most vulnerable populations include heart transplant patients, whom are also placed on postsurgical immune-suppressive therapy, and those undergoing cardiac valve replacement, at risk for subsequent endocarditis. These patient groups often present with poor dentition, notably including periodontitis and apical periodontitis, which both have been associated with postoperative infections and unfavorable surgical outcomes.
Method(s): Our group has developed a presentation to be delivered to an interdisciplinary group of physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, comprising teams of cardiothoracic surgery, transplant surgery, hematology-oncology, radiation oncology, and internal medicine. The goals are to increase knowledge about dental clearance's importance, and to expedite the process of receiving care. Additionally, the authors have developed a corresponding "dental pathway" within our hospital's electronic medical record (EMR) system to expedite clearance, as well as to increase compliance with presurgical dental clearance. Topics discussed in the presentation include pathways of transmission, the clearance process for inpatients, the separate process for clearance in outpatients, as well as a discussion on what occurs during a clearance visit.
Conclusion(s): The presentation created aims to increase interdisciplinary health care providers' background on oral health clearance. A topic that is often esoteric to other medical providers, the authors have devised a simple avenue to provide insight into the topic. Furthermore, our EMR pathway will provide coordinated collaboration between medical and dental providers, hopefully fostering effective and efficient oral health clearance prior to relevant surgical therapies. References: 1. Allareddy V, Elangovan S, Rampa S, et al. Presence of Gingivitis and Periodontitis Significantly Increases Hospital Charges in Patients Undergoing Heart Valve Surgery. J Mass Dent Soc. 2015; 63: 10-16. 2. Goldman KE. Dental Management of Patients with Bone Marrow and Solid Organ Transplantation. Dental Clinics of North America. 2006:659-676. 3. Meyur U, et al. Heart Transplants - Assessment of Dental Procedures. Clinical Oral Investigations. 1999 Jun;(3)2:79-83. 4. Souza AF, et al. Dental Management for Patients Undergoing Heart Valve Surgery. Journal of Cardiac Surgery. 2017;32:627-632. 5. Strojan P, et al. Treatment of Late Sequelae After Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer. Cancer Treat Rev. 2017 September;59:79-92. 6. Smith MM, et al. Morbidity and mortality associated with dental extraction before cardiac operation. Ann Thorac Surg, 97 (2014), pp. 838-844. 7. Sollecito, Thomas P., et al. The Use of Prophylactic Antibiotics Prior to Dental Procedures in Patients with Prosthetic Joints. The Journal of the American Dental Association, vol. 146, no. 1, 2015,. [Figure presented] [Figure presented] [Figure presented]
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BACKGROUND:Apert syndrome is frequently combined with respiratory insufficiency, because of the midfacial deformity which, in turn, is influenced by the malformation of the skull base. Respiratory impairment resulting from Apert syndrome is caused by multilevel limitations in airway space. Therefore, this study evaluated the segmented nasopharyngeal and laryngopharyngeal anatomy to clarify subcranial anatomy in children with Apert syndrome and its relevance to clinical management. METHODS:Twenty-seven patients (Apert syndrome, n = 10; control, n = 17) were included. All of the computed tomographic scans were obtained from the patients preoperatively, and no patient had confounding disease comorbidity. Computed tomographic scans were analyzed using Surgicase CMF. Craniometric data relating to the midface, airway, and subcranial structures were collected. Statistical significance was determined using t test analysis. RESULTS:Although all of the nasal measurements were consistent with those of the controls, the nasion-to-posterior nasal spine, sphenethmoid-to-posterior nasal spine, sella-to-posterior nasal spine, and basion-to-posterior nasal spine distances were decreased 20 (p < 0.001), 23 (p = 0.001), 29 (p < 0.001), and 22 percent (p < 0.001), respectively. The distance between bilateral gonions and condylions was decreased 17 (p = 0.017) and 18 percent (p = 0.004), respectively. The pharyngeal airway volume was reduced by 40 percent (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:The airway compromise seen in patients with Apert syndrome is attributable more to the pharyngeal region than to the nasal cavity, with a gradually worsening trend from the anterior to the posterior airway, resulting in a significantly reduced volume in the hypopharynx.

BACKGROUND:Microvascular reconstruction is the standard of care in head and neck reconstruction, though its perioperative safety in an older population has been controversial due to safety concerns, warranting further investigation. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:An "older" (≥71 years) cohort undergoing reconstruction after mandibulectomy/glossectomy was compared to the remaining population in a National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2008-2016) analysis. Cases required both a mandibulectomy/glossectomy and microvascular or local flap reconstruction (exclusion criteria: missing ages and simultaneous microvascular and local flap reconstruction). Demographics, comorbidities, and procedure types were analyzed on 985 patients (236 [24.4%] were ≥71). Outcomes were compared by reconstruction type. Regressions were performed calculating the impact of age on length of hospital stay (LOHS) and operative time. RESULTS:Ablative procedures were comparable, but older patients received local flaps at higher rates (22.5% vs. 9.6%; p < .001). The older population had more comorbidities (higher ASA class [p < .001], diabetes [p < .001], and hypertension [p < .001]). After Bonferroni correction, univariate subgroup analyses of soft tissue and bone/composite microvascular flaps revealed similar outcomes (except increased medical complications in the older cohort undergoing a bone free flap [p = .002]). Controlling for a variety of factors, older age resulted in longer LOHS (B: 1.4 days; 95% CI: 0.1-2.8 days; p = .035), but not operative time (B: -21.90 min; 95% CI: -52.76 to 8.96 min; p = .164). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:While increased age (≥70 years) was associated with a longer LOHS, complication rates were comparable. Although limited by the retrospective nature, evidence supports microvascular reconstruction in the elderly population with comparable outcomes.

BACKGROUND:Marko Godina, in his landmark paper in 1986, established the principle of early flap coverage for reconstruction of traumatic lower extremity injuries. The aim of this study was to determine how timing influences outcomes in lower extremity traumatic free flap reconstruction based on Godina's original findings. METHODS:A retrospective review identified 358 soft-tissue free flaps from 1979 to 2016 for below knee trauma performed within 1 year of injury. Patients were stratified based on timing of coverage: 3 days or less (early), 4 to 90 days (delayed), and more than 90 days (late). The delayed group was further divided into two groups: 4 to 9 days and 10 to 90 days. Flap outcomes were examined based on timing of reconstruction. RESULTS:Flaps performed within 3 days after injury compared with between 4 to 90 days had decreased risk of major complications (OR, 0.40, p = 0.04). A receiver operating curve demonstrated day 10 to be the optimal day for predicting flap success. Flaps performed less than or equal to 3 days versus 4 to 9 days had no differences in any flap outcomes. In contrast, flaps performed within 4 to 9 days of injury compared to within 10 to 90 days were associated with significantly lower total flap failure rates (relative risk, 0.29, p = 0.025) and major complications (relative risk, 0.37, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS:Early free flap reconstruction performed within 3 days of injury had superior outcomes compared with the delayed (4 to 90 day) group, consistent with Godina's original findings. However, as an update to his paradigm, this ideal early period of reconstruction can be safely extended to within 10 days of injury without an adverse effect on outcomes. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:Therapeutic, III.

GENERAL PURPOSE/UNASSIGNED:To review what is known about pediatric pressure injuries (PIs) and the specific factors that make neonates and children vulnerable. TARGET AUDIENCE/BACKGROUND:This continuing education activity is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care. LEARNING OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES/UNASSIGNED:After participating in this educational activity, the participant should be better able to:1. Identify the scope of the problem and recall pediatric anatomy and physiology as it relates to PI formation.2. Differentiate currently available PI risk assessment instruments.3. Outline current recommendations for pediatric PI prevention and treatment. ABSTRACT/UNASSIGNED:Pediatric patients, especially neonates and infants, are vulnerable to pressure injury formation. Clinicians are steadily realizing that, compared with adults and other specific populations, pediatric patients require special consideration, protocols, guidelines, and standardized approaches to pressure injury prevention. This National Pressure Advisory Panel white paper reviews this history and the science of why pediatric patients are vulnerable to pressure injury formation. Successful pediatric pressure injury prevention and treatment can be achieved through the standardized and concentrated efforts of interprofessional teams.

A number of digital and haptic simulators have been developed to address challenges facing cleft surgery education. However, to date, a comprehensive review of available simulators has yet to be performed. Our goal is to appraise cleft surgery simulators that have been described to date, their role within a simulation-based educational strategy, the costs associated with their use, and data supporting or refuting their utility.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Knowledge of surgical markings for unilateral cleft lip (UCL) repair is critical for surgical competency. However, few appropriate models are accessible to residents and affordable and accurately reproduce this 3-dimensional (3D) deformity. We propose that cleft care units have the capability of creating affordable 3D stone models to teach UCL markings. METHODS:Polyvinyl siloxane and SnapStone were used to create UCL stone models. Thirteen plastic surgery residents were prospectively recruited, provided with a textbook chapter and online module for studying surgical markings for UCL repair, and then asked to perform the markings on a UCL stone model and standardized patient photograph. Learner satisfaction was evaluated using a modified survey based on the Student Evaluation of Educational Quality survey. RESULTS:The production time of each model was 10 minutes, whereas the cost was $1.84. Participants reported that the stone model was more stimulating (4.77 ± 0.44 vs 3.92 ± 0.86; U = 38.0; P = 0.008), increased their interest more (4.70 ± 0.48 vs 3.53 ± 1.20; U = 33.5; P = 0.005), allowed better learning (4.61 ± 0.51 vs 3.08 ± 0.86; U = 10.0; P < 0.001), was clearer (4.62 ± 0.51 vs 3.15 ± 0.90; U = 12.5; P < 0.001), and was more effective for learning cleft lip markings (4.77 ± 0.44 vs 3.08 ± 1.04; U = 9.0; P < 0.001). They were also more likely to recommend it (4.85 ± 0.38 vs 3.15 ± 1.07; U = 7.0; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:Plastic surgery residents report that 3D cleft lip stone models are superior training tools to learn cleft lip markings compared with patient photographs. These educational tools have the potential to overcome significant financial, logistic, and time constraints in teaching cleft lip surgery markings.

The technical feasibility and clinical applicability of facial transplantation (FT) have been demonstrated, yet animal models with different technical nuances and allograft compositions continue to be developed. We sought to provide a comprehensive appraisal of the current scope and value of animal models in FT.