The Journal of craniofacial surgery
-
Fronto-orbital advancement and remodeling for craniosynostosis is extensive surgery and is associated with potential risks; the most significant of these is blood loss. We prospectively studied 116 consecutive patients undergoing fronto-orbital advancement by the same surgical team for a 5-year 6-month period to determine what factors are associated with blood loss and transfusion of blood products. The data collected on the calvarial sutures involved were whether the patient had a diagnosed syndrome, the age at operation, the length of the operation, the estimated blood volume lost during the perioperative course, the number of units of packed cells transfused (donor exposures), and the use of other blood products. ⋯ Other blood products were given in 28% of the cases. There was significantly greater blood loss in those patients with recognized craniofacial syndromes, pansynostosis, an operating time longer than 5 hours, and an age of 18 months or younger at operation. The use of other blood products was associated with those patients losing a blood volume higher than the mean.
-
Comparative Study
Reduction of nasal bone fractures: a comparative study of general, local, and topical anesthesia techniques.
The aim of the current study of nasal bone fracture reduction carried out under topical, local, and general anesthesia was to suggest a proper treatment of patients with nose fractures. ⋯ If the selection of patients is done properly, CNR under TA/LA will have considerable success in comparison with GA. Topical anesthesia is suggested in simple nasal fracture with unilateral depression or minimal displacement.
-
Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is a common complication in the practice of neurosurgery, and various surgical techniques were described to overcome and manage this problem. Besides not applying watertight closure of the duraplasty, the inviability and the poor vascularization of the graft and/or the dura (eg, reoperations, multiple operations, or cranial radiotherapy) may lead to delayed healing of the suture site and resultant persistent CSF leaks. We present a simple technique that uses on-site muscle flap with pedicle to supply and vascularize the autologous fascia lata, preserving the viability of the graft and reenforcing its healing ability. ⋯ Duraplasty using autologous fascia lata reenforced by on-site pedicled muscle flap is an effective technique to control CSF leak, especially when dura is poorly vascularized and less viable. The unfortunate recurrence of CSF leak and reexploration in the seventh patient helped us to observe the effectively healed dural defect with profound early postoperative vascularization of the graft, supporting our idea about the effectiveness of this technique.
-
Aspiration of a tooth in maxillofacial injuries is a known complication necessitating prompt recognition and early treatment to minimize potentially serious and, sometimes, even fatal consequences. Here, we report a rare and unusual case in its presentation, the patient having aspirated 2 permanent teeth after maxillofacial, cervical vertebrae, and thoracic region crush injuries due to a motor vehicle accident. ⋯ The paper also emphasizes that clinicians must be aware of dental injury resulting from maxillofacial injuries and account for all teeth as part of their evaluation, keeping an open mind as to where a missing tooth might be located. A rapid diagnosis depends on high clinical suspicion, clinical signs, and radiologic findings.
-
Case Reports
Pediatric mandibular reconstruction after benign tumor ablation using a vascularized fibular flap.
This study evaluated the aesthetic and functional outcomes of vascularized fibular flaps used for pediatric mandibular reconstruction. Six pediatric patients ranging in age from 12 to 15 years underwent mandibular reconstruction using a vascularized fibula flap with a skin paddle, after benign tumor ablation. All of the flap transfers were successful, and there were no complications. ⋯ The aesthetic and functional outcomes were normal. No patient had recurrence. A vascularized fibular flap is a very reliable method for reconstructing the pediatric mandible after benign tumor ablation.