Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND: Large experience in Asia has shown that the contralateral C7 nerve transfer has proved one of the major treatments for brachial plexus root avulsions. The authors report their experience in North America using the selective contralateral C7 transfer for neurotization of multiple targets. METHODS: A retrospective review of 56 patients with posttraumatic root avulsion brachial plexus injuries who underwent contralateral C7 transfer using selective technique was conducted. The targets included the axillary, musculocutaneous, radial, and median nerves. Additionally, neurotization of future free muscle transplantation was performed. The mean follow-up period was 6.1 years (range, 2.5 to 14 years). RESULTS: Motor recovery reached a level of M3+ or greater in 20 percent (two of 10) of patients for the deltoid, 52 percent (12 of 23) for the biceps, 24 percent (five of 21) for the triceps, 34 percent (10 of 29) for the wrist and finger flexors, and 20 percent (two of 10) for the wrist and finger extensors. In addition, sensory recovery of S2 or greater was achieved in 76 percent (22 of 29) of patients with median nerve neurotization. As far as the postoperative morbidity of the donor limb, by 6 months, there was no discernible motor or sensory deficit. Patients with a surgical delay of 9 months or less and patients aged 18 years or younger achieved significantly better results. CONCLUSIONS: Brachial plexus root avulsions, long considered to be irreparable, are by no means unreconstructable. The selective contralateral C7 transfer appears to be a safe procedure, and it can be successfully applied for simultaneous reconstruction of several different nerves and/or for neurotization of future free muscle transfers

BACKGROUND: Osteoradionecrosis is a serious complication of head and neck radiotherapy. Advanced cases are not amenable to periodic debridement, systemic antibiotics, or hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The authors sought to describe a cost-effective approach for patients with advanced craniofacial osteoradionecrosis. METHODS: Fifteen consecutive patients with craniofacial osteoradionecrosis were treated with radical resection and immediate microvascular free flap reconstruction at Johns Hopkins Hospital or R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center from 2002 to 2008. Demographic data were reviewed, and procedure costs were used to compare treatment options. RESULTS: All patients presented with intractable osteoradionecrosis, and most failed conservative therapy. Most cases (60 percent) involved the mandible, and the fibula was the flap of choice (73 percent). The median follow-up was 14 months, with 13 percent complications. Relative cost analysis for hyperbaric oxygen, surgical debridement, and a hospital stay was $25,010; simultaneous resection-microvascular free flap reconstruction and 7-day hospital stay were $30,030. The majority of patients, however, had prior attempts at conservative therapy followed by simultaneous resection and reconstruction; therefore, the average total relative cost per patient was $55,040 ($25,010 + $30,030). CONCLUSION: Definitive treatment of advanced or intractable osteoradionecrosis with simultaneous resection and microvascular composite flap reconstruction is not only definitive but financially sound.

BACKGROUND: Nasoalveolar molding was developed to improve dentoalveolar, septal, and lower lateral cartilage position before cleft lip repair. Previous studies have documented the long-term maintenance of columella length and nasal dome form and projection. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of presurgical nasoalveolar molding on long-term unilateral complete cleft nasal symmetry. METHODS: A retrospective review of 25 consecutively presenting nonsyndromic complete unilateral cleft lip-cleft palate patients was conducted. Fifteen patients were treated with presurgical nasoalveolar molding for 3 months before surgical correction, and 10 patients were treated by surgical correction alone. The average age at the time of follow-up was 9 years. Four nasal anthropometric distances and two angular relationships were measured to assess nasal symmetry. RESULTS: All six measurements demonstrated a greater degree of nasal symmetry in nasoalveolar molding patients compared with the patients treated with surgery alone. Five symmetry measurements were significantly more symmetric in the nasoalveolar molding patients and one measurement demonstrated a nonsignificant but greater degree of symmetry compared with the patients treated with surgery alone. CONCLUSIONS: The data demonstrate that the lower lateral and septal cartilages are more symmetric in the nasoalveolar molding patients compared with the surgery-alone patients. Furthermore, the improved symmetry observed in nasoalveolar molding-treated noses during the time of the primary surgery is maintained at 9 years of age

Osteomyelitis affects up to 32% of full-thickness pressure ulcers and increases treatment costs and the risk of systemic complications. Current diagnosis and treatment practices are variable. A literature and retrospective chart review, using a wound electronic medical record (WEMR), were conducted to develop an evidence-based protocol of care for treatment of osteomyelitis in pressure ulcers and to evaluate outcomes of care. The seven steps in the protocol of care include: 1) acknowledgment of osteomyelitis risk in patients with Stage IV pressure ulcers, 2) clinical evaluation for local or systemic signs of infection upon initial presentation, 3) radiographic evaluation (magnetic resonance imaging or bone scan), 4) surgical debridement to remove all nonviable tissue and/or scarred and infected bone, 5) obtaining pathology reports from sterile bone biopsy and deep microbial cultures, 6) targeted systemic antimicrobial therapy, and 7) tissue reconstruction following resolution of infection. WEMR data review (177 patients) identified 50 patients with osteomyelitis (prevalence 28%). Of those, 41 underwent 87 bone debridements for osteomyelitis. Eight (20%) patients experienced complications elated to treatment. Average time to discharge following debridement was 4.3 +/- 5.7 days and 76% of wounds with more than two consecutive WEMR entries showed a decrease in area at their final visit. The outcomes observed are encouraging and the WEMR facilitates implementation and evaluation of the treatment protocol. Ongoing data acquisition will help assess outcomes and refine the current management protocol and should improve diagnosis and care

Hedgehog signaling is often activated in tumors, yet it remains unclear how GLI2, a transcription factor activated by this pathway, acts as an oncogene. We show that GLI2 is a pleiotropic oncogene. The overexpression induces genomic instability and blocks differentiation, likely mediated in part by enhanced expression of the stem cell gene SOX2. GLI2 also induces transforming growth factor (TGF)B1-dependent transdifferentiation of foreskin and tongue, but not gingival fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, creating an environment permissive for invasion by keratinocytes, which are in various stages of differentiation having downregulated GLI2. Thus, upregulated GLI2 expression is sufficient to induce a number of the acquired characteristics of tumor cells; however, the stroma, in a tissue-specific manner, determines whether certain GLI2 oncogenic traits are expressed