Soft-tissue, non-osteogenic distraction of the mandible and lower face in bilateral hemifacial microsomia-technical report.

The aim of this study is to present a sequential strategy of soft-tissue, non-osteogenic distraction with a novel device, followed by microvascular bony reconstruction for severe cases of mandibular hypoplasia. The case of a 21-year-old woman with Goldenhar syndrome is presented, whose mandible remained severely hypoplastic despite previous attempts at distraction and was not suitable for further osteogenic distraction. Soft tissue deficiency and pin track scarring prevented free fibular transfers. A personalized distractor, anchored to the cranium and the mandibular symphysis, was designed to expand the soft tissues while allowing for physiological temporomandibular joint (TMJ) movement without compression forces. Internal distractors were placed along the osteotomies to prevent condylar luxation. After completion of the soft tissue distraction, the native mandible was resected except for the condyles and reconstructed with two free fibula flaps. This report represents the proof of concept of a sequential approach to severe lower face soft-tissue and bone deficiency, which preserves TMJ function and avoids the transfer of poorly matched skin to the face.

Addressing the challenges in antisepsis: focus on povidone iodine.

OBJECTIVES: Using antiseptics in wound care can promote healing by preventing and treating infection. However, using antiseptics can present many challenges, including issues with tolerability, inactivation by organic matter and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance/cross-resistance. This review discussed the key challenges in antisepsis, focusing on povidone-iodine (PVP-I) antiseptic. METHODS: Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, in January 2019, with a filter for the previous 5 years. Searches were based on the antimicrobial efficacy, antiseptic resistance, wound healing properties, and skin tolerability for the commonly used antiseptics PVP-I, chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), polyhexanide (PHMB), and octenidine (OCT). Additional papers were identified based on author expertise. RESULTS: When compared with CHG, PHMB and OCT, PVP-I had a broader spectrum of antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, actinobacteria, bacterial spores, fungi and viruses, and a similar and broad spectrum of activity against Gram-positive bacteria. PVP-I was also highly effective at eradicating bacterial biofilms, which is a vitally important consideration for wound care and infection control. Despite a long history of extensive use, no resistance or cross-resistance to PVP-I has been recorded, which is in contrast with other antiseptics. Despite previous misconceptions, it has been shown that PVP-I has low allergenic properties, low cytotoxicity and can promote wound healing through increased expression of transforming growth factor beta. CONCLUSION: With increased understanding of the importance of tackling antimicrobial resistance and bacterial biofilms in acute and chronic wound care, alongside improved understanding of the challenges of antiseptic use, PVP-I remains a promising agent for the management of antisepsis.