Faculty Bibliography

Ninety-two children, the entire series of paediatric facial reanimation by a single surgeon over thirty years, are presented. The objective is to analyse the incidence and value of secondary revisions for functional and aesthetic refinements following the two main stages of reanimation. The reconstructive strategy varied according to the denervation time, the aetiology, and whether the paralysis was uni- or bilateral, complete or partial. Irrespective of these variables, 89% of the patients required secondary surgery. Post-operative videos were available in seventy-two cases. Four independent observers graded patients' videos using a scale from poor to excellent. The effect of diverse secondary procedures was measured computing a mean-percent-gain score. Statistical differences between treatment groups means were tested by the t-test and one-way ANOVA. Two-thirds of the corrective and ancillary techniques utilized granted significantly higher mean-scores post-secondary surgery. A comparison of pre- and post-operative data found valuable improvements in all three facial zones after secondary surgery. In conclusion, inherent to dynamic procedures is the need for secondary revisions. Secondary surgery builds in the potential of reanimation surgery, effectively augmenting functional faculties and aesthesis

BACKGROUND: Acute postoperative pain following craniofacial or esthetic surgery, or trauma is readily treated with medicinal regimens. Facial pain persisting for more than six months is defined as chronic and must be distinguished from nontraumatic atypical facial pain or "tic-douloureaux." Our surgical experience managing chronic facial (trigeminal) pain is reviewed to provide insight into the success of our current algorithm for managing patients with chronic facial pain. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of nine consecutive patients operated for post-traumatic chronic trigeminal nerve pain. Most patients were women (mean age 41 years). Data evaluated included mechanism of nerve injury, physical exam, CT scans, computer-aided neurosensory testing, and diagnostic nerve blocks. Surgical management included hardware removal, neurolysis, and/or neuroma resection with nerve grafting when indicated. Primary outcome measurement included Likert pain scale score (range 0-10). Secondary outcome measurements included sensory exam, medication requirement, and return to work. Based on these outcome measures, results were defined as excellent, good, fair, or poor. RESULTS: Five of the nine patients had excellent outcomes, one was good, two were fair, and one was poor. The one patient with a poor result had temporary improvements, but later returned to baseline. No patient was made symptomatically worse or had operative complications. CONCLUSIONS: Successful treatment of chronic, post-traumatic trigeminal nerve pain can be expected using an algorithm that measures sensory function of the involved trigeminal nerve branch. Then either preserves that function through neurolysis or reconstruction with a nerve graft, or eliminates that function through neuroma resection.

Few areas of translational medicine carry as much excitement and hope as stem cell therapies. Because of recent advances in material science and stem cell and developmental biology that help to target molecules and pathways to restore the body's regenerative capacity, the "engineering" of missing tissue is quickly becoming a reality. Classically, tissue engineering has been thought to require external regenerative resources including a scaffold, cells, and growth factors. The allure of providing an exact replica of a missing bone that incorporates to become indistinguishable from self, has the capacity to heal and grow, is resistant to infection, and has minimal morbidity is a "holy grail" to all surgeons who work with bone. This article attempts to shed light on the use of stem cells for craniofacial reconstruction, including important principles learned from other scientific disciplines, relevant animal models for tissue engineering, early clinical reports from our experience and that of others, and future directions.

OBJECTIVE: Radiotherapy, an essential modality in cancer treatment, frequently induces fibrotic processes in the skin, including accumulation of extracellular matrix. Transforming growth factor-beta is essential in regulating extracellular matrix gene expression and is dependent on Smad3, an intracellular mediator/transcription factor. Our study characterized the genetic expression involved in extracellular matrix accumulation during radiation-induced fibrosis. We performed Smad3 gene silencing in an attempt to abrogate the effects of radiation. STUDY DESIGN: Laboratory research. SETTING: University laboratory. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: C57 murine dermal fibroblasts were irradiated with 20 Gy RNA isolated (0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 hours postirradiation) and mRNA analyzed (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) for known regulators (Smad3, interleukin-13 [IL-13]), tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-alpha]) and mediators of fibrosis (collagen 1A1 [Col1A1]), TGF-beta, matrix metalloprotease-1 and -2 (MMP-1, MMP-2), and tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-1 (TIMP-1). Smad3 gene expression was silenced using siRNA in an effort to restore an unirradiated gene profile. RESULTS: Following irradiation, there was a steady increase in mRNA expression of Smad3, IL-13, TGF-beta, Col1A1, MMP-2, TIMP-1, with peak at 12 to 24 hours and subsequent decline by 72 hours. TNF-alpha expression remained elevated throughout. MMP-1 showed minimal expression initially, which decreased to negligible by 72 hours. Inhibition of Smad3 significantly decreased expression of Col1A1, TGF-beta, MMP-2, and TIMP-1. IL-13 and TNF-alpha expression was not affected by Smad3 silencing. CONCLUSION: We have characterized the early-phase mRNA expression profiles of the major mediators of radiation-induced fibrosis. Smad3 siRNA effectively abrogated the elevation of Col1A1, TGF-beta, TIMP-1, and MMP-2. IL-13 and TNF-alpha were unaffected by Smad3 silencing and appear to be minor regulators in fibrosis. These findings suggest a therapeutic rationale for Smad3 silencing in vivo

BACKGROUND: Resident duty hours have been restricted to 80 per week, a limitation thought to increase patient safety by allowing adequate sleep. Yet decreasing work hours increases the number of patient exchanges (so-called 'handoff') at the end of shifts. WHERE ARE WE NOW?: A greater frequency of handoff leads to an increased risk of physician error. Information technology can be used to minimize that risk. WHERE DO WE NEED TO GO?: A computer-based expert system can alleviate the problems of data omissions and data overload and minimize asynchrony and asymmetry. A smart system can further prompt departing physicians for information that improves their understanding of the patient's condition. Likewise, such a system can take full advantage of multimedia; generate a study record for self-improvement; and strengthen the interaction between specialists jointly managing patients. HOW DO WE GET THERE?: There are impediments to implementation, notably requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; medical-legal ramifications, and computer programming costs. Nonetheless, the use of smart systems, not to supplant physicians' rational facilities but to supplement them, promises to mitigate the risks of frequent patient handoff and advance patient care. Thus, a concerted effort to promote such smart systems on the part of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (the source of the duty hour restrictions) and the Association of American Medical Colleges (representing medical schools and teaching hospitals) may be effective. We propose that these organizations host a contest for the best smart handoff systems and vigorously promote the winners

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The most common risk factor for bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ) is dentoalveolar surgery. It has been suggested that reduced serum C-terminal telopeptide (CTX) can determine the degree of osteoclast suppression and may predict the development of BRONJ after dentoalveolar surgery. Although there are many radiographic appearances associated with BRONJ, there are little data that describes changes preceding dentoalveolar surgery. The objective of this retrospective study was: 1) to investigate if reduced serum CTX values (i.e., <150 pg/mL) were associated with BRONJ after dentoalveolar surgery; and 2) to determine if specific radiographic changes are associated with teeth that develop BRONJ after extraction. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of radiographic and/or serum CTX data was performed for 68 patients with a history of bisphosphonate therapy who either underwent dental extraction or were diagnosed with BRONJ in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery during the period 2007-2009. Postoperative healing was assessed for 26 patients with reduced serum CTX levels (<150 pg/mL) who either underwent dental extraction or treatment for BRONJ. Preoperative radiographs were evaluated for 55 patients who either healed normally or developed BRONJ after dental extraction. RESULTS: All 26 patients (100%) who had serum CTX levels <150 pg/mL healed successfully after dentoalveolar surgery (20 patients) or after treatment for BRONJ (6 patients). Among the 55 patients who underwent radiographic evaluation, 24 patients (83%) with BRONJ exhibited periodontal ligament (PDL) widening associated with extracted teeth, whereas only 3 patients (11%) who healed normally demonstrated PDL widening. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that radiographic PDL widening may be a more sensitive indicator than CTX testing in predicting risk of BRONJ. Current guidelines that recommend minimal surgical intervention may need to be revised to include alternative strategies for the elimination or management of this pathology.

Despite the increasing utilization of all-ceramic crown systems, their mechanical performance relative to that of metal ceramic restorations (MCR) has yet to be determined. This investigation tested the hypothesis that MCR present higher reliability over two Y-TZP all-ceramic crown systems under mouth-motion fatigue conditions. A CAD-based tooth preparation with the average dimensions of a mandibular first molar was used as a master die to fabricate all restorations. One 0.5-mm Pd-Ag and two Y-TZP system cores were veneered with 1.5 mm porcelain. Crowns were cemented onto aged (60 days in water) composite (Z100, 3M/ESPE) reproductions of the die. Mouth-motion fatigue was performed, and use level probability Weibull curves were determined. Failure modes of all systems included chipping or fracture of the porcelain veneer initiating at the indentation site. Fatigue was an acceleration factor for all-ceramic systems, but not for the MCR system. The latter presented significantly higher reliability under mouth-motion cyclic mechanical testing

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to calculate and analyze the cost of treatment for stage IV pressure ulcers. METHODS: A retrospective chart analysis of patients with stage IV pressure ulcers was conducted. Hospital records and treatment outcomes of these patients were followed up for a maximum of 29 months and analyzed. Costs directly related to the treatment of pressure ulcers and their associated complications were calculated. RESULTS: Nineteen patients with stage IV pressure ulcers (11 hospital-acquired and 8 community-acquired) were identified and their charts were reviewed. The average hospital treatment cost associated with stage IV pressure ulcers and related complications was $129,248 for hospital-acquired ulcers during 1 admission, and $124,327 for community-acquired ulcers over an average of 4 admissions. CONCLUSIONS: The costs incurred from stage IV pressure ulcers are much greater than previously estimated. Halting the progression of early stage pressure ulcers has the potential to eradicate enormous pain and suffering, save thousands of lives, and reduce health care expenditures by millions of dollars