Faculty Bibliography

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE:The aim of this work was to evaluate osseointegration of endosteal implants with two different surface treatments at early stages (~3 weeks) in the tibia of healthy and ovariectomized rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS/METHODS:The study comprised 10 adult New Zealand female rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus; 6 months and 3.0 ± 0.5 kg). Five animals were subjected to bilateral ovariectomy to mimic osteoporotic-like conditions, and the remaining rabbits (n = 5) served as the healthy control group. After 3 months, specimens from the ovariectomized and control groups were subject to implant placement in both tibiae, using two different types of surface treatment. A total of 36 implants were placed, n = 18 acid-etched and n = 18 anodized. After 3 weeks, euthanasia of the animals was performed, and samples were obtained for processing. Bone-to-implant contact and bone area fraction occupancy were quantified to evaluate the osseointegration parameters around the implant surface and within the thread area, respectively, and nanoindentation tests were performed to determine elastic modulus and hardness of the new bone. Both analyses were performed on the entire implant (total), as well as individually within the cortical and bone marrow cavity area. RESULTS:All animals were evaluated with no signs of infection or postoperative complications. The total bone-to-implant contact and bone area fraction occupancy results, independent of surface treatment, yielded significant differences between the ovariectomized and control groups (P = .002 and P < .001, respectively). In the marrow cavity, analyzing the surface treatments independently as a function of bone condition, the only differences detected were in the anodized treatment (P = .04). Regarding the elastic modulus, differences were detected only with the anodized implants between the ovariectomized and control groups (P = .015). CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:At 3 weeks after implant placement, there were better osseointegration values of the implants in the healthy control group compared with the ovariectomized group independent of surface treatment. Also, specifically in the medullary region of the rabbit tibia, the acid-etched implants had more uniform osseointegration values in conditions of low-quality bone in comparison to the anodized implants, histomorphometrically and biomechanically.

The aim of this report is to describe the combination of Crouzon syndrome and acanthosis nigricans with fibrous dysplasia of the maxilla. The diagnosis of fibrous dysplasia was confirmed clinically and pathologically during Le Fort III osteotomy and midface advancement with distraction osteogenesis. Crouzon syndrome with acanthosis nigricans is a known syndrome with an incidence of 1:1,000,000. This is the first report in the literature of Crouzon syndrome and acanthosis nigricans combined with fibrous dysplasia. As all 3 pathologies are related to fibroblasts, they may be different manifestations of malfunction of a single molecular pathway. The detection of fibrous dysplasia in a patient with Crouzon syndrome and acanthosis nigricans is important because it may complicate midface osteotomies and fixation of the hardware on the bones during craniofacial surgery.

The use of virtual surgical planning and computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing has gained popularity in the surgical correction of craniosynostosis. This study expands the use of virtual surgical planning and computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing in cranial vault reconstruction by using these methods to reconstruct the anterior vault using a single endocortically-plated unit constructed from the posterior calvarium. This technique was designed to reduce the risk of undesirable contour deformities that can occur when multiple bone grafts are used to reconstruct the anterior vault and fronto-orbital rim. Six patients were included in this study, all of which had nonsyndromic craniosynostosis. Excellent aesthetic outcomes were obtained in all patients, without complication. Additionally, the placement of a single reconstructive unit constructed from the posterior calvarium was efficient, aesthetically pleasing, and minimized postoperative contour deformities secondary to bone gaps, resorption, and often palpable resorbable plates.

BACKGROUND:Approximately 50% of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) initially were seen with advanced disease. We aimed to evaluate the association of epidemiologic factors with advanced HNC at diagnosis. METHODS:The OraRad multicenter prospective cohort study enrolled HNC patients receiving curative-intent radiation therapy. Factors assessed for association with advanced HNC presentation at diagnosis included demographics, social and medical history, cancer characteristics, human papilloma virus (HPV) status, and dental disease measures. RESULTS:We enrolled 572 participants; 77% male and mean (SD) age of 61.7 (11.2) years. Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (88% HPV-related) were seen with smaller tumors, but more frequent nodal involvement. Private medical insurance and no Medicaid were associated with smaller tumors. A higher dental disease burden was associated with larger tumors. CONCLUSIONS:Insurance status, cancer type/location, and dental disease are associated with advanced HNC and may represent potentially modifiable factors or factors to be considered in the screening process of new lesions.

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND:Clinical significance of internal mammary (IM) lymph node biopsy during microvascular free flap breast reconstruction remains controversial. Some microsurgeons may choose to biopsy an IM lymph node during routine IM vessel dissection. The authors reviewed the results of IM lymph node biopsy during autologous breast reconstruction. METHODS:A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent autologous breast reconstruction during a seven-year period (January 2010 to January 2017) was performed. Patient demographic data, disease staging, flap details, pathology reports, and adjuvant treatment were evaluated. RESULTS:A total of 230 patients with a mean age of 52.1 (SD 9.3) underwent IM lymph node biopsy (n = 297). Single IM lymph node was removed in 169 patients, 2 nodes were removed in 56 patients, 3 nodes in 4 patients, and 4 nodes in a single patient. Histopathologic analysis demonstrated presence of IM lymph node metastasis in 16 patients (7.0%). Thirteen patients were found to have metastatic IM lymph nodes in the setting of immediate reconstruction. Three patients were found to have metastatic IM lymph nodes in the setting of delayed. Five out of 16 patients (31.3%) had negative axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy and IM lymph nodes were the only site of nodal metastases. All five of these patients were upstaged accordingly and received adjuvant therapy based on the discussion at the multidisciplinary breast tumor conference. CONCLUSIONS:Opportunistic internal mammary lymph node sampling during autologous breast reconstruction can be performed with minimal morbidity and has significant impact on the disease staging and adjuvant treatment.

BACKGROUND:The operating microscope is used in many centers for microvascular hepatic arterial reconstruction in living as well as deceased donor liver transplantation in adult and pediatric recipients. To date, a systematic review of the literature examining this topic is lacking. METHODS:This systematic review of the literature was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Three different electronic databases (PubMed, Embase OVID, and Cochrane CENTRAL) were queried. RESULTS:A total of 34 studies were included. The rate of hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) in noncomparative studies (28) ranged from 0% to 10%, with 8 studies reporting patient deaths resulting from HAT. Within comparative studies, the rate of HAT in patients who underwent arterial reconstruction using the operating microscope ranged from 0% to 5.3%, whereas the rate of HAT in patients who underwent arterial reconstruction using loupe magnification ranged from 0% up to 28.6%, and 2 studies reported patient deaths resulting from HAT. Two comparative studies did not find statistically significant differences between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS:Our comprehensive systematic review of the literature seems to suggest that overall, rates of HAT may be lower when the operating microscope is used for hepatic arterial reconstruction in liver transplantation. However, matched comparisons are lacking and surgical teams need to be mindful of the learning curve associated with the use of the operating microscope as compared with loupe magnification, as well as the logistical and time constraints associated with setup of the operating microscope.

As more young people feel safe to outwardly identify as transgender or gender expansive (TGE), meaning that their gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth, an increasing number of youth who identify as TGE seek gender-affirming medical care (GAMC). GAMC raises a number of ethical questions, such as the capacity of a minor to assent or consent, the role of parents or legal guardians in decisions about treatment, and implications for equitable access to care when differing parental or custodial viewpoints are present. These questions are further complicated by the difficulties in explaining the limits of long-term research in GAMC, with regard to the preservation of fertility, for example. We present two de-identified composite case studies to highlight dilemmas that may arise and offer recommendations to better support patient- and family-centered decision making for GAMC. These include employing a multidisciplinary shared decision-making approach, disentangling informed consent and assent from chronological age, developing a consistent approach to the assessment of decisional capacity, and developing age-appropriate informational materials.