Postoperative infections associated with microvascular free flaps in head and neck reconstruction: Analysis of risk factors and results with a standardized prophylaxis protocol.

Currently, large defects of the head and neck regions are mainly reconstructed using microvascular free flap. Postoperative infections, including surgical site infections (SSIs) and medical postoperative infections (MPI), are important causes of morbidity and worsening of surgical outcomes. The authors aimed to analyze the results obtained using a standardized prophylaxis protocol in a series of 100 consecutive patients who underwent microvascular reconstruction surgery between 2016 and 2021 at a single institution, to identify the risk factors, which could be overcome, to minimize the incidence of infectious complications. In this study, 24 patients developed infectious complications. Higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score was statistically associated with higher risk of infectious complications (p = 0.01), need for postoperative transfusions (p = 0.01), and higher T and N stage (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, respectively) in patients with cancer. We also found a correlation between the increase in surgery duration, hospitalization, and intensive care unit (ICU) stay with higher risk of infection (p = 0.03, p = 0.01, and p = 0.001, respectively). Nine patients reported partial or total flap necrosis and in this group of patients, a higher incidence of infectious complication was recorded (p = 0.001). Our experience shows that SSIs and MPIs affect the global and surgical outcomes of patients and both their incidences can be reduced by correcting potential risk factors preoperatively (e.g., anemia), intraoperatively (amount of blood loss and duration of surgery), and postoperatively (duration of hospitalization and ICU stay and early elimination of potential sources of infection).

Parameters and outcomes in 525 patients operated on for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: This report analyzed the outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) to identify the value of prognostic factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 525 patients were studied who had undergone surgery for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) between 2000 and 2011, of whom 222 had received postoperative radiation-therapy (PORT) and or chemoradiation-therapy (PORTC). For each patient, personal data, histological findings, treatment and outcome were recorded and analyzed statistically. Survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier algorithm, and the difference in survival among subgroups was examined. RESULTS: The overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) 5-year survival rate in the 525 patients were respectively 71.38% and 73.18%. The differences in the overall survival and disease-specific 5-year survival were significant (p < 0.05) for age < 40 years, site of origin, N status, staging, grading, osseous medullar infiltration, and perineural invasion. In patients undergoing radiation therapy, only perineural invasion negatively influenced the survival prognosis. In 150 pT1 cases of tongue and floor-of-mouth cancer, an infiltration depth (ID) > 4 mm was statistically correlated with poorer prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate an improvement in the 5-year OS and DSS rates during the past decade compared with the previous decade. Univariate analysis revealed that age, tumor staging, and lymph node involvement, extracapsular spread, grading, perineurial invasion, infiltration depth, and osseus medullary invasion were associated significantly with overall survival and disease-specific survival.

Induction chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy in advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: A phase II study was carried out to investigate an induction regimen with cisplatin, paclitaxel followed by radiotherapy concurrent with weekly cisplatin for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Stage III-IV disease patients were eligible. Two cisplatin (100 mg/m2) and paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) courses were administered every 21 days followed by standard fractionated external beam radiotherapy (approximately 70 Gy), concomitant to weekly cisplatin (30 mg/m2). RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were enrolled: over 70% had unresectable disease with bulky lesions. Grade 3-4 neutropenia developed in 14% and G3 mucositis in 23%. Locoregional control was achieved in 51%. Median time to progression and overall survival were 10,7 and 17 months respectively; 2- and 3-year survival rates were 30% and 25% respectively. CONCLUSION: Our induction two-drug regimen followed by chemoradiotherapy with concurrent weekly cisplatin was well tolerated with low acute toxicity and good locoregional control and survival rate.

[Evaluation of tegumental changes after skeletal repositioning in orthodontic surgery]. / Valutazione della modificazione dei tegumenti dopo riposizionamento scheletrico negli interventi di chirurgia ortognatodontica.

One of the main problems of orthognathodontic surgery is to evaluate the effects on soft tissue of bone positioning performed following surgical programming. A method which is of particular interest, easy to perform and reproduce was proposed by Jensen in 1992. It evaluates the correspondence of soft tissues on the basis of surgical programming and allows percentage values of soft tissue movement to be calculated in relation to bone tissue, thus performing a surgical VTO which corresponds as closely as possible to the postoperative result. It is important to remember that surgical programming is essentially based on the aesthetic and clinical analysis of the patient, the evaluation of the records collected, the surgeon's sensitivity dictated by his experience and his aesthetic sense which may result in an increasingly reliable VTO.

Rigid fixation with teeth in the line of mandibular fractures.

The treatment results and the incidence of complications were evaluated retrospectively in a group of 68 patients. They all had mandibular fractures with a tooth in the line of fracture and were treated using miniplates for fixation. The follow up ranged from 1 to 6 years (mean 2.6 years) and 90 fracture sites were involved. Results showed that the incidence of complications when the tooth was extracted was higher (3/12) than when it was left in place (8/78). With regard to both healing of the fracture and fate of the tooth in the line of fracture, it is recommended to retain teeth in the line of fracture, unless there is an absolute indication for extraction. It is advisable to monitor the vitality of teeth adjacent to the fracture line for at least one year.

[Anatomicosurgical comments on the importance of the spinal accessory nerve]. / Considerazioni anatomochirurgiche sull'importanza del nervo accessorio spinale.

The preserved integrity of the spinal accessory nerve plays an extremely important role in cervico-facial surgery since the majority of surgical approaches involve this nervous structure. Following a short historical outline of the surgical method, the Authors illustrate the anatomo-topographical aspects and anatomo-surgical problems. A number of points emerge from a review of the literature which are vital to isolate the spinal accessory nerve: 1) the transversal apophysis of the atlas is particularly prominent in the retrostyloid space and lies half-way across an imaginary horizontal segment connecting the mastoid process with the angle of the mandible; 2) the posterior edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle at approximately six centimetres from the mastoid process; 3) the nervous point of Erb located at the point where the superficial branches of the cervical plexus emerge from the posterior edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (the nerve generally emerges from the posterior edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle two centimetres above this point and two centimetres below it the nerve meets the anterior edge of the trapezius). This is followed by an analysis of the possible complications deriving from lesions to this vital nervous structure. The resection of the spinal accessory nerve leads to the so-called "shoulder syndrome" mainly due to the denervation of the trapezius. This syndrome is characterised by the onset of regional pain, the typical deformation of the shoulder joint and functional deficit. The deformation is provoked by the decreased muscular strength of the superior and middle portion of the trapezius manifested as the rocking of the shoulder and a higher superointernal angle.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)